Apprentice Early Years Educator - Gingerbread Corner - CR0 2EG

Summary

Are you looking for a career in childcare? Gingerbread Corner are recruiting! You will be ensuring the educational, social, physical, emotional, health and welfare needs of the children are always met. During the apprenticeship you will complete an Early Years Educator level 3.

Wage

£15,600 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 - Friday - shifts to be confirmed.

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Friday 4 September 2026

Duration

1 year 4 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

Corporate Responsibilities:

• Act in accordance with Gingerbread Corner’s Policies, Procedures and Protocols, including the Safeguarding Procedure, including fulfilling your responsibilities under Health and Safety legislation
• Work effective as a member of our staff team
• Notify your Line Manager of any concerns about carers, children, staff, volunteers or students
• Attend all staff meetings, (including evening meetings) and our annual General Meeting
• Have a flexible approach regarding your general child-care duties
• Provide a good role model for volunteers and students
• Service provision
• Provide a warm welcome to visitors and clients, promoting and fostering good relationships with clients
• Promote the children’s self-esteem, helping them develop confidence in their abilities, extend their skills and develop their full potential by helping to provide a safe and stimulating play environment
• Contribute towards displays and provide creative activities
• Contribute to the observations, etc in Early Years and log them onto Tapestry (our on-line learning journal)
• Maintain a high standard of hygiene and cleanliness, particularly having full regard to the health, safety and welfare of each child 
  Training
• Attend all in-house training courses, as well as undertaking any other professional and personal development training as requested by your Line Manager
• Miscellaneous
• Help with occasional fund-raising events, etc. (usually in your own time!)
• Carry out any other tasks, commensurate with your position, as requested or authorised by staff

Where you'll work

THE FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
GINGERBREAD CORNER
GRENABY AVENUE
CROYDON
CR0 2EG

Training

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

Training provider

EDEN TRAINING SOLUTIONS LIMITED

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

• Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification
• Level 2 Functional Skills in maths and English (if required)
• End-Point Assessment (EPA)
• Employee Rights and Responsibilities (ERR)
• Personal Learning and Thinking Skills (PLTS)
• Apprentices must successfully complete the Level 3 Award in
  Paediatric First Aid. (RQF) or Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid (RQF)

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade C / 4+)
• Maths (grade C / 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
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience