Early Years Educator Apprentice

YARRELLS PREPARATORY SCHOOL LTD

Dorset (BH16 5EU)

Closes on Wednesday 19 August 2026

Posted on 13 July 2026

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Summary

At Yarrells Nursery, we pride ourselves on creating a friendly, supportive and inspiring environment for both children and staff. This is your opportunity to begin a rewarding career in Early Years while making a difference every single day.

Wage

£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Lunch provided during term times Free parking on site Two 15 min breaks and One 30 min lunch

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday (shift pattern) with a day release to college.

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

As an apprentice, you will work alongside experienced practitioners across our baby, toddler and preschool rooms, learning hands-on while studying. You will play an important role in creating a nurturing, safe and engaging environment where children can learn, develop and thrive.

  • Supporting the care and development of babies and young children
  • Creating a warm, stimulating and inclusive environment • Planning and delivering fun, age-appropriate activities and play
  • Building positive relationships with children, parents and colleagues
  • Ensuring children’s individual needs and development are met
  • Learning about the Early Years Foundation Stage and applying best practice
  • Supporting the day to day needs and tasks with the running of the nursery Picking up children - Playing on the floor with children - Setting up resources for the garden and decking area - Crouching down to support children going to sleep.

Where you'll work

The Greenwood Nursery
Yarrells Drive
Poole
Dorset
BH16 5EU

Training

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

Training provider

BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE COLLEGE, THE

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 Standard https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st0135-v1-4 BPC Grow for Apprentices programme

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4 or above)
  • Maths (grade 4 or above)

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

Skills

  • Attention to detail
  • Communication Skills
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • IT skills
  • Non judgemental
  • Organisation skills
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness
  • Problem Solving
  • Team Working

Other requirements

DBS checks will be a requirement in the position. Candidates will also have to apply to the Bournemouth and Poole College and attend an academic interview and information session as part of the on-boarding process. 

About this employer

Yarrells Nursery is based in our Greenwood building with children aged 6 months to 4 years. We are based in a woodland area with access to a secure decking area and a woodland garden. We are based within the grounds of Yarrells Prep School and have access to their areas such as the swimming pool, forest school, sports hall etc... Yarrells is a family run business and many links are made across the nursery and school

After this apprenticeship

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

Progression to Full Time employment.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE COLLEGE, THE

Kayley Nash

k.nash@yarrells.co.uk

01202 622229

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041877.

Apply now

Closes on Wednesday 19 August 2026