Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprentice

KID N PLAY LTD

Newcastle Upon Tyne (NE6 5SH)

Closes on Sunday 22 November 2026

Posted on 21 October 2026

---

Summary

As an Early Years Educator Apprentice, you will work as part of a supportive early years team to provide a safe, caring and stimulating environment for children. You will gain practical experience while working towards your Early Years Educator qualification.

• 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)

  Shift days will depend on needs of the business

• Training course: Early years educator (level 3)
• Hours: Monday to Friday. Shifts to be confirmed.

  40 hours a week

• Start date:

  Monday 23 November 2026

• Duration:

  1 year

• 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

You will support children's learning and development through play, planned activities and everyday routines, while developing your knowledge and skills under the guidance of experienced practitioners.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the planning and delivery of engaging, age-appropriate activities that promote children's learning and development.
• Build positive, caring and respectful relationships with children, parents/carers and colleagues.
• Help provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all children.
• Support children's personal care needs, including toileting, nappy changing, handwashing and mealtimes, where appropriate.
• Encourage children's independence, confidence and social skills.
• Observe children's interests, development and progress and contribute to appropriate records and assessments.
• Support children's learning through play and encourage curiosity, creativity and exploration.
• Follow the setting's safeguarding, health and safety, confidentiality and behaviour policies.
• Work effectively as part of the nursery team and contribute to maintaining a positive environment.
• Assist with maintaining clean, organised and welcoming indoor and outdoor learning environments.
• Communicate appropriately with parents/carers and other professionals as directed by senior staff.
• Attend training and complete all required apprenticeship learning and assessments.
• Take responsibility for your own professional development and respond positively to feedback.

Safeguarding

The successful candidate will be expected to understand and follow the setting's safeguarding procedures and to promote the welfare and safety of children at all times. Any safeguarding concerns must be reported promptly to the appropriate member of staff.

Where you'll work

Kid n Play Limited (t/a St Gabriel's) Nursery, Cartington Terrace
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE6 5SH

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

What We Offer

• Full support from experienced early years practitioners.
• On-the-job training and mentoring.
• Time and support to complete your apprenticeship qualification.
• Opportunities to develop practical childcare and early years skills.
• A friendly, inclusive and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for continued development and progression within early years education.

Apprenticeship Development

During the apprenticeship, you will develop knowledge and practical skills in areas including:

• Child development and early years education.
• Supporting children's physical, emotional and social development.
• Planning and delivering activities through play.
• Observation, assessment and supporting children's individual needs.
• Safeguarding and child protection.
• Health, safety, hygiene and wellbeing.
• Working with parents, carers and colleagues.
• Inclusive practice and supporting children with different needs.
• Professional practice within an early years setting.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4)
• Maths (grade 4)

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

Skills

• Communication skills
• Customer care skills
• Team working
• Patience

Other requirements

This role is subject to the appropriate safeguarding and recruitment checks.

About this employer

We've been part of Newcastle family life for over 30 years, and we're still a proud family-run nursery. Many of the parents who bring their children to us today came through our doors as little ones themselves, and that means the world to us. Our team are qualified and caring, and they really get to know every child and every family. We want your child to feel safe, happy and loved here, just like at home. Each day is full of discovery, from our cosy baby sensory rooms to our big play spaces and our gardens, where there's always something to explore. We help children grow in curiosity and confidence and enjoy learning from the very start.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

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

Opportunities for continued development and progression within early years education.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SKILLS NORTH EAST LIMITED

Carla Dixon

carla@sne.org.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000060406.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 22 November 2026

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