Apprentice Early Years Educator

New River Green is one of 16 Children's Centres within the Borough of Islington. At New River Green Children's Centre we offer combined care and education places for children from babies to 5 years old. This is achieved through excellent customer service and the delivery of key activities which are designed to meet the needs of our customers. Working as part of a friendly and well-respected team, your role will be varied and rewarding.

The Job - Working as an Early Years Apprentice for the Council you will:

• Work under supervision to develop skills and experience in Child Development and the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.
• Work in nursery class with children 3-5 years and in the under 3's with babies from birth to 3 years.
• Gain experience of working with children with additional needs.
• Develop activities that are age appropriate for young children.
• Work within a diverse staff team developing professional relationships with colleagues and parents/carers.

Training and Development - Within your role you will:

• Complete a Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship qualification funded by the Council. This will be a blended learning approach which will include self-study, interactions with your training provider on a face-to-face/online basis and undertake remote learning whilst completing tasks in the workplace. Dedicated time will be given to you to support your development.
• Join the apprenticeship personal and professional development programme that will involve a series of varied development activities and events throughout your apprenticeship with the Council.

Working in Islington Council

We appreciate and value our employees and recognise the importance of a motivated and supported workforce. We will support your development through the activities mentioned above and through the ongoing support of your manager and a mentoring programme. In addition to the competitive salary and excellent annual leave package, the organisation offers a wide range of benefits such as discounted gym memberships and cycle schemes, discounted theatre tickets and local discounts from restaurants, shops, beauty therapists, and more!

Your training will be supported in the workplace by allowing dedicated time in your working week to focus on your studies in addition to having access to a network of colleagues from within the organisation and the training provider to support your development journey.

Moving on - After you have successfully completed your Apprenticeship Pathway you will have gained valuable workplace experience and attained a professional qualification which will improve your chances of finding work either within the Council or with another employer or help you move on to a higher level apprenticeship elsewhere. You will have networked across the Council and be aware of the internal job market during your time with us and we will provide support on your approach to the wider job market as part of your development programme.

Key responsibilities:

• Undertake a development programme leading to a Level 3 qualification as part of an apprenticeship.
• Spend 20% of your contracted hours towards the timely completion of your training programme.
• Actively participate in your own development plan under the supervision of your line manager and the training provider.
• Work under supervision to develop knowledge, skills and experience in Child Development and the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.
• Plan for age appropriate, child-centred, play-based provision for young children from birth to 5 years.
• Work within the team to promote children's emotional stability, independence, autonomy and creativity.
• Develop and maintain a partnership with parents that values their contributions and involves them in their child's education.
• Act as a key person for a defined group of individual children (no more than 2) providing each child with continuity of care throughout the child's time at the setting, in partnership with their parent/carer.
• Support the team to undertake planning, observation and assessments for children's learning and development.
• Constructively take part in meetings, supervision, seminars and other events designed to improve communication and assist with your own development and that of your role.
• Undertake other duties compatible with your learning and development as required.
• Use information technology systems to carry out duties in the most efficient and effective manner.
• Achieve personal performance targets, as agreed by your line manager.
• Carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Council's customer care standards.
• Be committed to the Council's CARE values and serving the public first, being open, honest and fair, and respecting all people and communities.
• Operate within the centre's policies and procedures including safeguarding.

Closing date: Monday 21st July 2025 at 23:59. Interviews due date: 29th/30th July 2025.

For an informal discussion about apprenticeships at Islington council please contact Nicole Lubrun 020 7527 1885 or email [email protected]

If you are an Islington resident who would like support with your application, please contact the iWork Team on 020 7527 3559 or email [email protected]

About You - Working for the team, service and our organisation. Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council, our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers, we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Together we can change the future.

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive. To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you - We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers, we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service.
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week.
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential.
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum.
• Excellent local government pension scheme.
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships.
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement - We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Safeguarding - We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check with children barred list and 3/5 years referencing.

Disability Confident Scheme - Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.