Early Years Educator Apprentice

Summary

As an Early Years apprentice at Chilton Meadows Day Nursery, you will work alongside an experienced team and contribute to the wellbeing and development of children in our care. Applicants must already hold a current practice-based Level 2 Childcare qualification.

Wage

£21,157 a year

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

Hours

Shifts between the hours of 7am- 6pm Monday- Friday.

36 hours a week

Start date

Monday 26 October 2026

Duration

1 year 6 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

• Behave in a professional and courteous manner towards all members of the staff team, directors, children, families and any other visitor to the setting
• Populate learning journals for children
• Adhere to confidentiality and information sharing
• Read and understand all policies, procedures and risk assessments
• Read information that is given to you to support your development
• Attend bi-monthly staff meetings
• Assist with creating topical areas within nursery including updating displays
• Recording and uploading daily diary information to the nursery system
• Undertake any tasks asked of you by senior colleagues to ensure the smooth running of the nursery
• Cleaning and tidying areas of nursery
• Carry out supervised personal care routines including nappy changing
• Giving out food and snacks to children
• All members of staff are expected to undergo training to develop their personal / professional skills
• It is your responsibility to inform a manager when you think there is a call for concern regarding children, staff and families
• You will be expected to use protective clothing, this will be provided by nursery i.e., gloves, aprons, hair nets etc. where applicable (Long hair should be tied back)
• Health and Safety is everyone’s responsibility, if you see a hazard, it is your responsibility to make the hazard safe unless this puts you at risk. You will be expected to inform the manager immediately and without delay of these risks
• Accidents to yourself must be reported to the management team immediately and recorded in the accident book the same day
• Everyone who attends the nursery must be respected at all times, staff, children and visitors

Where you'll work

Black Boy Road
Houghton le Spring
DH4 6LX

Training

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

Training provider

CITY OF SUNDERLAND 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

Full Level 3 Early Years Educator standard

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4-9)
• Maths (grade 4-9)

Level2 in:

Early Years (grade Pass)

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

Skills

• Attention to detail
• Communication skills
• Creative
• Customer care skills
• Initiative
• Logical
• Non-judgmental
• Patience
• Team working

Other requirements

• DBS will be required for the role