SmileOn Nusery - Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship

Location: SW18 1GG

Organisation: SmileOn Nursery

Hours: Flexible, can offer full-time and part-time positions with an August start date.

Overview: This role requires an individual who demonstrates a genuine passion for working with young children and who is capable of contributing to a safe, nurturing, and stimulating learning environment. The Early Years Teacher Assistant will work under the guidance of the Early Years Teacher and nursery leadership team to support children’s development through play-based learning and structured activities. The role involves assisting with the planning and implementation of educational activities, monitoring children’s development, supporting emotional wellbeing, and ensuring the nursery environment meets the highest standards of safety, safeguarding, and early years practice.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in the implementation of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum through structured and play-based learning experiences.
• Support the Early Years Teacher in delivering age-appropriate educational activities that encourage cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.
• Foster a stimulating, inclusive, and engaging environment where children feel secure, valued, and encouraged to explore.
• Encourage children’s independence while supporting them in developing confidence, communication skills, and social interaction.
• Promote positive behaviour management strategies in line with nursery childcare and daily care routines.
• Assist with the daily care routines of children including meal times, hygiene, rest periods, and outdoor play.
• Ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of children at all times.
• Maintain a clean, organised, and safe classroom environment in accordance with nursery procedures and health and safety standards.
• Support children with transitions between activities and daily routines.
• Ensure full compliance with safeguarding, child protection, and welfare policies in line with statutory requirements.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding children, families, and staff.
• Follow all nursery policies related to health and safety, equality and inclusion, and professional conduct.
• Contribute to maintaining standards required by regulatory bodies such as Ofsted.

Skills:

• A clear understanding of child development and early learning principles.
• Ability to support the implementation of play-based learning activities that promote holistic child development.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact positively with children, parents, and colleagues.
• A patient, caring, and empathetic approach when working with young children.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team while also demonstrating initiative when required.
• A commitment to maintaining high standards of care, safeguarding, and professionalism.

Company Benefits:

• Training opportunities (also for visa holders, in which case apprenticeships will be covered by the Company).
• Free lunches on site.
• Transport reimbursement (in some cases).
• Childcare discount; additional short development courses.
• Paid annual leave; bonuses (in some cases).
• Could offer a full-time role, upon agreement from both sides as well as significant pay rise (£30,000-£36,000 pa).

Training Information:

Over the course of 15 – 18 months (dependent upon the level of course an apprentice is being enrolled onto), you will study units such as health & safety in a childcare setting, holistic child development, safeguarding in a childcare setting, child development, communication with children, purposeful play and educational programmes, supporting children with special educational needs, collaborative working in early years childcare, wellbeing principles for children and at higher levels, child protection, data, supporting key life transitions and behaviour management (these modules may differ). Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship programme, you will achieve a Level 3 qualification and a TQUK Diploma in Early Years.

We and our employer partners are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, so a DBS check will be required for this role. To make you aware, this position is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore all convictions, cautions and bind-overs, including those regarded as ‘spent’ must be declared, and you will be asked about these during the recruitment process. If you do not hold GCSE Maths & English (or equivalent), these will be delivered alongside the apprenticeship programme.

Our delivery of training is through blended learning. Supported by one of our sector specialist tutors, they will deliver teaching sessions using various methods including face to face teaching, Skype, FaceTime, telephone, and peer virtual classroom whilst using our interactive multi-sensory teaching resources. Teaching sessions are normally bi-weekly or monthly, depending on the learner’s preferred learning style. Additionally, the tutor will provide the support required to ensure the learner enjoys and ultimately successfully achieves their goals and completes their training. We want learners to feel that our team are approachable at any stage of their learning journey.

You will initially take an online assessment that will help us to understand your learning style and needs, then we will tailor your learning experience accordingly. We ensure that you stay on track to complete your programme on time by managing your expectations through our state-of-the-art e-portfolio system. At the end of your programme, your learnt knowledge, skills, and behaviours will be assessed by an independent assessor in your end point assessment (EPA). As part of the apprenticeship, alongside your job role, 20% of your time in work must be dedicated to developing new skills. This can be any time devoted to learning and improving new skills without interruption.