Level Three Early Years Apprentice
MARGARET MCMILLAN CHILDRENS CENTRE
BRADFORD (BD7 3JE)
Closes in 11 days (Monday 3 August 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 20 July 2026
Contents
Summary
A great opportunity to progress your career in childcare. To provide inclusive play and learning opportunities for all children attending the Children’s Centre. Helping to create a safe, stimulating, happy and enjoyable environment. To help provide care and appropriate learning opportunities for children aged 0-5 years old.
- Wage
-
£15,808 to £25,114.96, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Early years educator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday 38 hours per week, term time only. Please discuss working hours within the children's centres opening times at interview.
38 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 6 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
To demonstrate and promote Margaret McMillan Children’s Centres values and mission statement (Have Fun and Learn) at all times. To develop partnerships with parents/carers to increase involvement in their child’s development. To be responsible for any tasks delegated by the Deputy Manager and Centre Manager. To complete all academic aspects of the apprenticeship.
Main Duties:
- To provide a safe, caring, stimulating educational environment, both indoors and outdoors at all times
- To deliver an appropriate play based Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum that enables children to make individual progress
- To help ensure the Nursery meets Ofsted requirements at all times
- To understand and work to the Nurseries policies and procedures, including how to deal with child protection issues appropriately and how to respond to incidents, accidents, complaints and emergencies
- To plan activities which ensure each child is working towards the early learning outcomes
- To be a key person and ensure children are championed, encouraging their confidence and independence
- To ensure records are properly maintained e.g. daily attendance registers, accident and incident book, risk assessments
- To liaise closely with parents/ carers, informing them about the nursery and its curriculum, exchanging information about children’s progress and encouraging parent’s involvement
- To work in partnership with senior management to update and review the self-evaluation and improvement plan
- To undertake any other reasonable duties as directed, in accordance with the preschool aims and objectives
- To learn how to ensure a safe, clean, tidy and welcoming environment by completing daily duties
- To learn how to set up the learning environment to meet the children’s individual interests, needs and learning
- To learn about strategies to promote positive behaviour and assist in supporting children’s emotional wellbeing
- To be reliable and demonstrate excellent attendance, to ensure continuity of care for children, colleagues and families
- To treat all matters as confidential that relate to the children, their families and the nursery
Where you'll work
FARNHAM ROAD
BRADFORD
BD7 3JE
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
SHIPLEY 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
- Early Years Educator Level 3
- Training will include paediatric first aid qualification
Training by day release at Shipley College on a Thursday including regular assessor workplace visits to support the training.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
Relevant L2 qualification or work experience in:
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4+, A*-C or L2 equivalent)
- Maths (grade 4+, A*-C or L2 equivalent)
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
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
Please ensure you have: Researched the role, the location of the school and Shipley College. A DBS criminal record check and eligibility to work in the UK will be required. All applicants will be asked to submit a current CV and attend an information, advice and guidance session.
About this employer
Margaret McMillan Nursery School is a highly-regarded early learning centre nestled in the heart of Bradford, providing an exceptional start for young children. The nursery school is celebrated for its nurturing environment and commitment to fostering a love of learning. It plays a significant role in the local community, creating a welcoming and supportive space for families.
The dedicated team at Margaret McMillan Nursery School genuinely cares for the children, often going above and beyond to build confidence and ensure a smooth transition, especially for families new to the area. Reviewers consistently highlight the staff's welcoming nature and their efforts to integrate with families and the wider community. The modern facilities are kept clean, offering a stimulating and safe setting where children thrive and often miss long after they've moved on.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
Once achieved an Early Years Educator can progress into supervision and management roles or set up their own childcare business.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
SHIPLEY COLLEGE
Petras Puodziunas
apprenticeships@shipley.ac.uk
01274327390
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000043524.
Apply now
Closes in 11 days (Monday 3 August 2026 at 11:59pm)