Apprentice Early Years Educator

Summary

Join Timtin Playgroup and Kids Club, a friendly non-profit charity, as a Level 3 Early Years Apprentice. Learn from experienced practitioners while gaining hands-on experience supporting children’s learning, development and wellbeing in a caring community setting.

Wage

£12,480 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Pay will be looked at and possibility of going up to national minimum wage sooner.

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

Hours

The hours will be between 7:30am - 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. Shifts can be discussed for the right candidate.

30 hours a week

Start date

Wednesday 28 October 2026

Duration

1 year 9 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

Timtin Playgroup and Kids Club is a non-profit charity organisation providing a friendly, caring and supportive environment for children and their families. We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our team as a Level 3 Early Years Apprentice.

This is a fantastic opportunity to start a rewarding career in early years while learning from experienced practitioners and gaining valuable hands-on experience. You will receive support and guidance as you develop your skills and work towards your Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship.

Duties will include, but will not be limited to:

• Work alongside experienced practitioners to support children’s learning, development and wellbeing.
• Build positive, caring and respectful relationships with children, families and colleagues.
• Support children through play, activities and everyday routines.
• Help create a safe, welcoming and stimulating environment for children.
• Observe and learn how practitioners support individual children’s needs and interests.
• Support activities that encourage children’s social, emotional, physical and educational development.
• Learn about safeguarding, health and safety and good practice within an early years setting.
• Attend training and complete your Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship.

We are looking for someone who is a good listener, hardworking and willing to learn. You should have a positive “can-do” attitude, be reliable and enthusiastic about working with children. You do not need previous experience, as you will learn and develop your skills alongside our experienced team.

If you are caring, enthusiastic and passionate about making a positive difference to children’s lives, we would love to hear from you.

Where you'll work

LINWOOD ROAD
MARTIN
LINCOLN
LN4 3RA

Training

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

Training provider

LINCOLN COLLEGE

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

• The successful candidate will work towards achieving their Apprenticeship Standard in Early Years Educator - Level 3.
• A dedicated work-based trainer will be assigned to the candidate to provide them with support and guidance throughout the course.
• This is a work-based programme with College attendance required once a month. All learning will take place at the candidate's place of employment/College and within their contracted working hours.

More training information

Course outline:

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English and Maths (grade A*/9 – 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
• Problem solving skills
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience