Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship - Mostly Term Time Only

Downside Nursery

COBHAM (KT11 3NY)

Closes on Tuesday 1 December 2026

Posted on 9 October 2026

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Summary

We have a fantastic opportunity for an aspiring apprentice to join our team. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are ambitious and want to gain playworker qualification while getting experience. You'll create meaningful relationships with the children, your team and with parents.

Wage

£15,808 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

The apprenticeship wage is payable during the first 12 months, regardless of the apprentice's age. After 12 months, the National Minimum Wage rate applicable to their age group will apply.

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday- Thursday 8am- 4pm and Friday 8am- 2pm for 41-weeks per year.

38 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 2 December 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

  • Caring for children: Ensuring children's health and well-being, feeding and changing babies, and supervising meals for older children
  • Planning activities: Leading educational games, preparing learning environments, and helping with trips
  • Supporting children's development: Supporting children's personal, social, and emotional development, and providing challenging interactions
  • Observing and assessing children: Observing children's progress and skills, and keeping records to share with parents
  • Communicating with parents: Meeting parents and greeting children in a friendly way, and communicating effectively with parents
  • Learning: Participating in classes and workshops, completing tests and assignments, and learning about the industry and best practices
  • Attending meetings: Attending team meetings and training

Where you'll work

RYE SALTERS
HORSLEY ROAD
DOWNSIDE
COBHAM
KT11 3NY

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

  • Online learning and coursework
  • Virtual classrooms and webinars
  • One-to-one support from a dedicated tutor
  • Workplace observations and reviews
  • Dedicated training time within working hours
  • No college attendance required
  • Earn while you learn
  • Gain a nationally recognised qualification

Requirements

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

  • You must be a UK resident and have at least 3 years residency in the UK/EU
  • If you require a Visa, this must not expire before the apprenticeship end date (up to 24-months)
  • GCSEs in English and maths at Grade C (4) or above or able to achieve Level 2 English and maths whilst on programme

This apprentice position is an excellent opportunity for those looking to build a career in education while making a meaningful difference in the lives of children.

Safeguarding Statement.

This authority/organisation is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, requiring all staff and volunteers to uphold this commitment.

As part of the safer recruitment, you will require an enhanced DBS. This will be applied for by the employer if successful. 

It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

About this employer

Downside Nursery school is an exceptional independent nursery school based in Cobham, Surrey. We are family run and have been operating since 1985, providing a holistic approach to learning in a nurturing environment, set in private, extensive, secure grounds.

After this apprenticeship

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

The Early Years Educator Level 3 is an advanced apprenticeship equivalent to an NVQ 3. You could progress to the Level 5 Early Years Lead Practitioner apprenticeship and do further training to reach Early Years Teacher Status.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000058347.

Apply now

Closes on Tuesday 1 December 2026