Apprentice Early Years Practitioner

Summary

To provide high-quality early years education & care in accordance with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, supporting children’s learning, development, safety, and wellbeing within a nurturing and inclusive preschool environment.  Working within a professional team.

Wage

£10,400 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

Hours

Monday to Friday covering 25 hours per week. Weekly working schedule to be agreed on appointment.

25 hours a week

Start date

Monday 2 November 2026

Duration

1 year 10 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

Teaching and Learning

Plan, prepare, and deliver age-appropriate activities and learning experiences in line with the EYFS framework.
Support children’s learning and development through purposeful play and adult-led activities.
Observe, assess, and monitor children’s progress, maintaining accurate and up-to-date records, using the online learning platform Tapestry
Identify and support children’s individual learning needs, including children with additional needs or English as an additional language.
Promote children’s personal, social, emotional, and physical development.
Encourage positive behaviour through consistent and appropriate behaviour management strategies.

Safeguarding and Child Welfare

Promote and safeguard the welfare of all children within the setting.
Adhere to all safeguarding, child protection, health and safety, and confidentiality policies and procedures.
Maintain a safe, clean, secure, and stimulating environment for children, staff, and visitors.
Report any safeguarding concerns, accidents, incidents, or hazards in accordance with setting procedures.
Ensure children are supervised appropriately at all times.

Partnership with Parents and Carers

Develop and maintain positive and professional relationships with parents and carers.
Share information regarding children’s development and wellbeing appropriately and confidentially.
Support effective communication between the preschool and families.

Where you'll work

Chalfont St Peter Community Centre
Gravel Hill
Chalfont St Peter
SL9 9QX

Training

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

Training provider

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

What you'll learn

• 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

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL

Your training course

Early years educator

Equal to Level 3 (A level)

Your training plan

You will be working to achieve the Early Years Educator Level 3 Standard Apprenticeship, attending online sessions with your Tutor / Assessor for training. You will be given time each week to complete your course work.

All your lessons will be held online. You will have access to your sessions and other training materials via our e-portfolio. Laser Learning provides you 24/7 access to your work.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade Grade A-C/4-9)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths (grade A-C/4-9)

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

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Administrative skills
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Other requirements

The successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check and provide satisfactory references prior to appointment. They must be prepared to complete relevant training and follow the Safeguarding Policy.

Please attach a copy of your CV with your application.