Nursery Apprentice

Little Trees Nursery

Stroud (GL6 8AS)

Closes in 30 days (Friday 7 August 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 8 July 2026


Summary

As a Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprentice, you will work alongside experienced practitioners to gain the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to become a qualified Early Years Educator.

Wage

£16,640 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Health cash plan  Reduced childcare fees (pro rata and must be applied for)  

Use of Dean Close facilitities

 Free lunch  

Discounted tickets for Bacon Theatre  

Death in service 

 

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday- Friday, between 8am- 5pm.

40 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Your duties will include:

  • Supporting the learning and development of children from birth to five years through play and planned activities.
  • Helping to create a safe, stimulating, and inclusive environment where every child can thrive.
  • Building positive relationships with children, parents, carers, and colleagues.
  • Assisting with children's daily routines, including mealtimes, personal care, sleep routines, and outdoor play.
  • Observing children's development and contributing to planning activities that meet their individual needs.
  • Promoting children's health, wellbeing, and emotional development.
  • Following all safeguarding, health and safety, and nursery policies and procedures.
  • Preparing activities and resources to support children's learning.
  • Working as part of a friendly and supportive team while developing your confidence and professional skills.
  • Completing your Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship, including off-the-job training, coursework, and assessments.  

Where you'll work

Little Trees Brownshill
Brownshill Road
Stroud
GL6 8AS

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COLLEGE

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure.
  • Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies).
  • Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice.
  • Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety.
  • Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child.
  • Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child.
  • Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person.
  • Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children.
  • Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years.
  • Advocate for all children’s needs, including children which require SEND or EAL support.
  • Promote and facilitate children’s interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships.
  • Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.
  • Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours.
  • Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements.
  • Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors.
  • Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child’s voice.
  • Apply strategies that support children’s ability to manage change, transition, and significant events.
  • Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child’s needs and interests.
  • Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
  • Provide adult led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
  • Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally.
  • Recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure.
  • Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies).
  • Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice.
  • Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety.
  • Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child.
  • Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child.
  • Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person.
  • Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children.
  • Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years.
  • Advocate for all children’s needs, including children which require SEND or EAL support.
  • Promote and facilitate children’s interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships.
  • Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.
  • Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours.
  • Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements.
  • Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors.
  • Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child’s voice.
  • Apply strategies that support children’s ability to manage change, transition, and significant events.
  • Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child’s needs and interests.
  • Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
  • Provide adult led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.
  • Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally.

Training schedule

You will work towards achieving the Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship standard while gaining valuable hands-on experience within the nursery.

Your training will include:

  • Learning on the job alongside experienced and qualified practitioners.
  • Dedicated off-the-job training, delivered by your apprenticeship training provider.
  • Regular reviews and support from your workplace mentor and apprenticeship tutor.
  • Completing coursework, observations, and assessments to demonstrate your knowledge and skills.
  • Developing your understanding of child development, safeguarding, health and safety, supporting children's learning, and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
  • If required, completing Functional Skills qualifications in English and Maths alongside your apprenticeship.

Throughout your apprenticeship, you will receive ongoing support and guidance to help you develop the confidence, skills, and knowledge needed to become a qualified Early Years Educator.

Requirements

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Patience

Other requirements

A calm, patient, and caring individual with a genuine passion for working with children.

Good communication skills.

The ability to work effectively as part of a team.

A positive attitude and willingness to learn.

About this employer

At Little Trees we aim to give all our children the strongest roots and foundations so that every child in our care may grow and develop healthily and happily.  Within a nurturing and safe environment filled with warmth, love and support, we dedicate ourselves to helping every child develop.We are passionate about giving our children the very best experiences to ensure they develop into well rounded little individuals.

https://www.deancloselittletrees.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

If your apprenticeship is successful, and you complete your qualification, we would be delighted to welcome your application for a qualified role within the nursery. We are committed to supporting our apprentices to develop their skills and, where suitable opportunities arise, progress into permanent, qualified positions. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

Little Trees Nursery

Jess Martin

jmartin@deanclosenurseries.co.uk

01453 731101

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041126.

Apply now

Closes in 30 days (Friday 7 August 2026 at 11:59pm)