Early Years Educator (SEND) Apprenticeship - Rugeley
Etching Hill Primary Academy
Penk Drive NorthRugeley (WS15 2XY)
Closes on Wednesday 19 August 2026
Posted on 16 July 2026
Contents
Summary
Etching Hill Primary Academy are looking for a new Early Years Educator Apprentice. You will be studying toward your Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Level 3 with SENDco.
- Wage
-
£13,312 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 8.40am - 3:40pm.
Term time only - salary is pro rata.
32 hours a week
- Start date
-
Wednesday 26 August 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 3 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
Join our thriving EYFS team! We offer a supportive environment, inspirational colleagues, wonderful children and high-quality professional development. An exciting opportunity for a passionate, committed and professional Early Years Educator.
As an Early Years Educator Apprentice, you will gain hands-on experience supporting children's learning, development and wellbeing through play-based and structured activities. You will learn how to create engaging learning environments, support communication and language development, encourage positive behaviour, and help children develop confidence and independence.
Day-Day Responsibilities:
- Support the learning, development and wellbeing of children aged 0–5 through play-based and planned activities in line with the EYFS framework.
- Assist in creating a safe, stimulating and inclusive learning environment where every child can thrive.
- Work closely with the nursery team to plan, deliver and evaluate engaging learning experiences that meet children's individual needs and interests.
- Provide additional support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), working alongside the nursery SENCO to help implement individual support strategies and promote inclusion.
- Observe, monitor and record children's progress, contributing to learning journals and sharing observations with colleagues.
- Encourage children's communication, language, social and emotional development through positive interactions and purposeful play.
- Promote children's independence, confidence and self-care skills through daily routines and learning opportunities.
- Build positive relationships with children, parents, carers and colleagues, maintaining professionalism at all times.
- Follow safeguarding, health and safety, confidentiality and nursery policies to help ensure a safe environment for all children.
- Support daily nursery routines, including mealtimes, outdoor play, hygiene practices and transitions throughout the day.
Please be aware the Salary is Pro-Rata, this role is term time only with opportunity to work holiday clubs.
Where you'll work
Penk Drive NorthRugeley
WS15 2XY
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
PARAGON EDUCATION & SKILLS 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
At Shaping Lives, we are dedicated to one mission: helping nurseries like yours nurture future generations through high-quality early childhood education. As a trusted training provider, we specialise in developing skilled, passionate educators who make a meaningful difference in the lives of children aged 0–5. Whether you're looking to enhance your current team's skills or recruit new talent, we’re with you every step of the way. Upon completion of this 15 month apprenticeship, you will have obtained your Early Years Educator Level 3 with SENDco Apprenticeship qualification.
Requirements
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Creative
- Initative
- Patience
- Teamworking
- Communication Skills
Other requirements
The closing date guidance, if a successful candidate is found before the advertised dates, the advert will close early.
About this employer
On behalf of the children, staff and governors I would like to offer you a warm welcome to our school web site. For those of you not familiar with our school, we are a relatively large Church of England Primary school, situated on the edge of Cannock Chase in Rugeley. Etching Hill has been part of the local community since 1971. Our shared aim is to inspire the children in our care to become happy, independent lifelong learners, who are able to fulfil their potential and live life in all its fulness. We do this by providing high quality, memorable and exciting learning opportunities. I am very honoured to work with such a dedicated team of teachers, support staff and governors, all of whom are committed to supporting each individual child to ‘shine brightly’ and to develop a sense of pride and aspiration both, for themselves as people and for our school. At Etching Hill we are proud of the wide range of academic, musical, artistic, sporting and community activities that take place on a regular basis. Each of these contributes to making the school a vibrant, happy place to be. Furthermore we believe that we can only achieve the best for our pupils by working closely with parents and carers. There are many opportunities for parents to share in their child’s education and families are always warmly welcomed into the school.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
There is a possibility of being offered a full time role after successful completion of the apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
PARAGON EDUCATION & SKILLS LIMITED
Shaping Lives recruitment team
apprentice.recruitment@pgon.co.uk
08004220588
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000043132.
Apply now
Closes on Wednesday 19 August 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.