Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship

MRS SUZANNE MARIE MORTON

Hougton Le Spring (DH5 9DG)

Closes in 10 days (Monday 27 July 2026)

Posted on 10 July 2026

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Contents

Summary

We believe childhood should feel calm, magical and full of opportunities to explore. We’re looking for a warm, dedicated Level 3 practitioner who shares our passion for natural environments, outdoor learning and child-led discovery. Someone who sees the wonder in everyday moments and wants to help children grow with confidence, curiosity and joy.

Wage

£16,640 to £26,436.80, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
3-4 days per week. Days and times to be confirmed.

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 5 October 2026

Duration

1 year 3 months

Positions available

2

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 part of our team, you’ll help us create an environment where children can follow their interests, explore freely and develop a deep love for learning. You’ll support their development in line with the EYFS 2025, while confidently preparing for the EYFS 2026 reforms, ensuring our practice remains reflective, responsive and forward‑thinking,

Curiosity‑Inspired Practice

  • Use natural, open‑ended and real‑life resources to spark imagination and exploration
  • Create calm, thoughtful spaces that encourage independence, confidence and deep‑level learning
  • Observe children closely and respond to their fascinations, extending learning in meaningful ways
  • Support children to take the lead in their play, offering gentle guidance and warm interactions
  • Bring imagination and creativity into everyday moments, helping children see magic in the ordinary

Forest‑School Inspired Outdoor Learning

  • Champion outdoor learning as a core part of our daily routine
  • Help children explore nature, investigate the environment and develop resilience through safe, supported risk‑taking
  • Use natural materials, loose parts and outdoor provocations to inspire curiosity and awe
  • Model respect for the natural world and encourage children to care for their environment

Teaching & Learning (EYFS 2025 & EYFS 2026 Reforms)

  • Plan and deliver high‑quality learning experiences tailored to each child’s needs
  • Support progress across all EYFS areas, with a strong focus on communication, language, emotional wellbeing and early literacy

Being a Role Model Within the Team

  • Show professionalism, warmth and positivity in everything you do
  • Lead by example, demonstrating best practice in safeguarding, interactions, planning and environment setup
  • Be someone the team naturally looks up to — calm, polite, supportive and dependable
  • Bring creativity, imagination and enthusiasm that motivates others
  • Support colleagues through encouragement, guidance and reflective conversations
  • Help create a team culture where everyone feels valued, confident and motivated
  • Demonstrate hard work, dedication and pride in your role, inspiring others to do the same

Safeguarding & Safer Recruitment

Children’s safety is our absolute priority. As part of our safer‑recruitment commitment, you will:

  • Hold (or obtain) an enhanced DBS and complete all suitability checks
  • Follow safeguarding procedures confidently and report concerns immediately
  • Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality and digital‑safety expectations
  • Model behaviour that helps children feel safe, valued and protected
  • Engage in ongoing safeguarding and child‑protection training

Health, Safety & Compliance

  • Follow all statutory requirements including ratios, supervision, hygiene and first aid
  • Support Ofsted compliance through high‑quality practice and professional conduct

Working With Families

  • Build warm, trusting relationships with parents and carers
  • Communicate children’s achievements, progress and wellbeing in a positive, professional way
  • Work collaboratively to support children’s routines, transitions and individual needs

Teamwork & Professionalism

  • Contribute to staff meetings, reflective practice and continuous improvement
  • Engage in ongoing professional development, including curiosity‑inspired and outdoor learning training
  • Support colleagues, uphold our values and always maintain confidentiality

Where you'll work

Little Jems, Victoria Street
Hougton Le Spring
DH5 9DG

Training

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

Training provider

SKILLS NORTH EAST 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

Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship (12 months delivery + 3 Months for end point assessment).

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4-9)
  • Maths (grade 4-9)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Customer care skills
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Patience

About this employer

The aim of the nursery is to help children to develop into confident, happy, independent and co-operative individuals. This happens throughout the nursery but it is especially important for the toddlers and twos as these earliest years are formative and have a fundamental effect on your child's future development.

After this apprenticeship

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

Potential progression onto full employment upon completion of the qualification.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SKILLS NORTH EAST LIMITED

Laura Kirkup

littlejems2026@outlook.com

0191 250 4590

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041831.

Apply now

Closes in 10 days (Monday 27 July 2026)

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.