Early Years Educator Apprenticeship

WIND IN THE WILLOWS CHILDCARE LIMITED

Bootle (L30 5RH)

Closes in 19 days (Tuesday 24 November 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 5 November 2026

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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)

Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm - 40 hours per week

40 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 3 December 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

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

Ronald Ross Avenue
Bootle
L30 5RH

Training

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

Training provider

JUNIPER TRAINING 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

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

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
  • Attention to detail
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

Pass a DBS check

About this employer

Open since 2003 Wind in the Willows Childcare Sefton, Merseyside offers a fun loving and stimulating environment for children aged 3 months to 5 years. We believe in parent partnership and feel building a close relationship with all our parents and families is important in making sure we deliver the best possible service to you and your child.

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:

JUNIPER TRAINING LIMITED

Dawn Greenwood

dawn.greenwood@junipertraining.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000062842.

Apply now

Closes in 19 days (Tuesday 24 November 2026 at 11:59pm)