Childcare Apprenticeship – Level 3 Early Years Educator (WM)

This apprenticeship is ideal for someone with prior knowledge and experience in a nursery or school setting, especially a childcare and early years enthusiast who wants to further their career.

Wage: £14,976 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age. National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices.

Hours: Apprentices must be flexible to meet the needs. The average working week is 30‑40 hours, Monday to Friday. Shifts TBC. 36 hours a week.

Duration: 1 year 1 month.

Overview: Most of your apprenticeship is spent working, learning on the job through hands‑on experience.

What you’ll do at work:

• Providing an excellent range of activities that ensures the child learns whilst having fun.
• Supporting children’s learning and development, including planning and observations.
• Preparing and maintaining the environment and resources for the children.
• Preparation of food for breakfast, snack and afternoon tea.
• Supporting children’s self‑help needs.
• Being creative and enthusiastic.
• Following safeguarding rules.
• Undertaking first aid training as required.
• Ensuring that all health and hygiene requirements are always adhered to.

Training: Apprenticeships include time away from work for specialist training, including remote sessions via Teams. You will gain a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification and Level 3 Paediatric First Aid.

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 those who 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. You will gain a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification at the end of the course. All training is completed remotely via Teams, with your tutor supporting you throughout and visiting your setting. Online remote training sessions will take place once a week for the first 8 weeks, and they’ll be scheduled on an as‑and‑when basis. You will complete your Level 3 Paediatric First Aid.

Requirements: GCSE Mathematics (grade 4). Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience; the apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect prior knowledge.

Skills: Logical, Creative, Initiative, Non‑judgemental.

About this employer: We were established in 1998 and became part of YMCA Worcestershire in 2020. We offer quality childcare and education for children from 3 months, delivered in a homely, family environment by a team of qualified staff with many years of experience. We pride ourselves on parent partnership and strong bonds with our children. We plan and implement activities and experiences that meet each child’s needs in a safe, stimulating, inclusive environment.

After this apprenticeship: Upon completion you will be a Level 3 practitioner with potential for a permanent position. Opportunities also exist in roles such as social work, teaching, managerial positions, and other childcare‑oriented roles.

Contact: SWIFT ACIAmyal@swiftcc.co.uk