Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprentice

Summary

A Level 3 Early Years Educator shapes the development of children aged up to 5 years by delivering high-quality, inclusive care and play-based education. Responsibilities include executing the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, carrying out learning assessments, and acting as a primary key person for individual children.

Wage

£15,484 a year

Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they’re either:

• aged under 19

• aged 19 or over and in the first year of their apprenticeship

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

Hours

8.30 am - 4.30 pm Monday to Friday.

37 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 2 September 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

The successful apprentice will work under the guidance of teaching and senior staff to support pupils within the early years setting. The role will involve supporting children’s learning and development through play-based activities, group work, and individual support.

• Supporting children within the Early Years environment to access learning and play opportunities.
• Assisting teaching staff in delivering engaging and creative learning activities.
• Supporting children’s communication, language, literacy, numeracy, and social development.
• Encouraging children to interact positively with others and develop confidence and independence.
• Working with children individually and in small groups to reinforce learning activities.
• Assisting with observations and assessment records in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
• Preparing and maintaining classroom resources, displays, and equipment.
• Supporting children during snack times, routines, and transitions throughout the day.
• Assisting with personal care routines where appropriate.
• Promoting inclusion and ensuring all children have equal access to learning opportunities.
• Helping to maintain a safe, stimulating, and purposeful learning environment.
• Observing and monitoring children’s progress and reporting concerns or achievements to teaching staff.
• Promoting positive behaviour and supporting children’s emotional wellbeing.
• Supporting safeguarding, health and safety, confidentiality, and data protection procedures at all times.
• Building positive relationships with parents, carers, colleagues, and other professionals.
• Participating in school meetings, training, and professional development opportunities.
• Assisting with school trips, activities, and events where required.
• Contributing positively to the overall ethos and values of the school.

Where you'll work

Rembrandt Avenue
South Shields
NE34 8RZ

Training

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

Training provider

GATESHEAD COUNCIL

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

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

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

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
• Organisation skills
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental