Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship

Safeguarding & Safer Recruitment

Children’s safety is our absolute priority. As part of our safer-recruitment commitment, you will:

• Hold (or obtain) an enhanced DBS and complete all suitability checks
• Follow safeguarding procedures confidently and report concerns immediately
• Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality, and digital-safety expectations
• Model behaviour that helps children feel safe, valued, and protected
• Engage in ongoing safeguarding and child-protection training

Health, Safety & Compliance

• Follow all statutory requirements including ratios, supervision, hygiene, and first aid
• Support Ofsted compliance through high-quality practice and professional conduct

Working With Families

• Build warm, trusting relationships with parents and carers
• Communicate children’s achievements, progress, and wellbeing in a positive, professional way
• Work collaboratively to support children’s routines, transitions, and individual needs

Teamwork & Professionalism

• Contribute to staff meetings, reflective practice, and continuous improvement
• Engage in ongoing professional development, including curiosity-inspired and outdoor learning training
• Support colleagues, uphold our values, and always maintain confidentiality.

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

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab). Potential progression onto full employment upon completion of the qualification.