About the Role

As an Early Years Apprentice at Abington Vale Playschool, you’ll support children aged 2–5 through play-based learning, help plan activities, observe progress, and assist children with varied needs. You’ll uphold safeguarding and work with families while gaining training, skills, and a recognised qualification.

Wage: £14,560 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course: Early years educator (level 3)

Hours: To be discussed with the employer. 35 hours a week

Start date: Tuesday 1 September 2026

Duration: 1 year 6 months

Positions available: 1

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

The apprentice will be expected to support the day-to-day running of the setting, including supervising children, assisting with activities, and maintaining a safe, clean, and stimulating environment.

Duties will include:

• Supporting toileting and care routines
• Preparing and tidying resources
• Assisting with snack and lunch club
• Working both indoors and outdoors

The role also involves completing paperwork for key children, such as observations, learning journeys, and next steps, contributing to assessments, and following all safeguarding, health and safety, and confidentiality procedures, with guidance and support from experienced staff

Where you'll work

ABINGTON VALE PLAYSCHOOL
BRIDGEWATER DRIVE
ABINGTON VALE
NORTHAMPTON
NN3 3AF

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

Training provider

NORTHAMPTON COLLEGE

Training course

Early years educator (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• 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.