Early Years Educator Apprenticeship

JAM CHILDCARE LIMITED

Leaden Roding, Sawbridgeworth, Sawbridgewoth

Closes on Tuesday 1 September 2026

Posted on 8 July 2026

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Summary

We have a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated apprentice to join our wraparound childcare team. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with children and would like to gain a recognised qualification while getting valuable hands-on experience. 

Wage

£8,320 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday term time only 7.30am - 8.30am (breakfast club) 3.00pm - 6.00pm (after school club)

20 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 2 September 2026

Duration

2 years

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

As an Early Years Apprentice, you will support the delivery of high-quality wraparound care for primary school-aged children.

Duties will include:

  • Supervising and engaging children in a variety of play activities
    Supporting children's social, emotional and physical development
  • Assisting with the preparation and serving of healthy snacks and breakfast items
  • Encouraging positive behaviour and inclusion for all children
    Helping to set up and clear away activities and equipment
  • Maintaining a safe, clean and stimulating environment
  • Supporting children's independence and confidence through play
    Building positive relationships with children, parents and colleagues
  • Following safeguarding, health and safety and club policies at all times

The purpose of the role is to develop your skills and knowledge in playwork while providing excellent care and enjoyable experiences for children attending the club.

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

  • Jam After School Club The Rodings, Rodings Primary School, Dunmow Road, Leaden Roding, CM6 1PZ
  • West Road, Sawbridgeworth, CM21 0BL
  • Jam After School Club Fawbert & Barnard Infant School, Knight Street, Sawbridgewoth, CM21 9AX

Training

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

Training provider

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED

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

The programme offers a blended learning approach including:

  • Virtual classrooms and webinars
  • Work-based learning activities
  • Online assignments and portfolio building
  • Regular reviews and feedback from your tutor
  • Candidates are not required to attend college. Off-the-job training will be completed during working hours in line with apprenticeship requirements
  • You will receive one-to-one support from an apprenticeship tutor who will conduct regular workplace visits and online reviews throughout the programme

More training information

  • Best Practice Network is one of the UK’s leading providers of training, development and support for education professionals
  • We share the desire of every practitioner that every child, regardless of their background, should benefit from an excellent education
  • We do this by working in close partnership with practising education professionals to develop and deliver high-quality CPD and qualifications that help school leaders, teachers, early years practitioners, business managers, support staff and SENCOs be the best they can be and transform the lives of children and young people

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English Language (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Patience

About this employer

We are very lucky to have sole use of the dining hall at Fawbert & Barnard Infants School as well as the playground and field area. We also take regular trips to the local park which is just across the church grounds. We offer care to children that attend Fawbert and Barnard Infant School and Mandeville Primary School.

https://www.jamchildcare.co.uk/sawbridgeworth (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).

  • Progress within your setting as a supervisor or manager
  • Work as a play work development officer for a local authority
  • Move into a school as a Teaching Assistant
  • Become self-employed and set up an after-school club or childcare project
  • Move into an Early Years setting and proceed with an Early Years Educator Level 3 apprenticeship

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041431.

Apply now

Closes on Tuesday 1 September 2026