Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship

Forget Me Not Day Nursery; Sherborne; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 16,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite parking

Job summary

Forget Me Not Day Nursery in Sherborne is offering an early years educator apprenticeship. You'll train on the job, learning through hands-on practice while supporting children aged birth to five under supervision.

The role focuses on planning play, implementing the EYFS, building strong relationships with children and families, and committing to safeguarding and professional development during a 31-hour week.

Qualifications

• Willing to learn and undertake further training.
• Commitment to obtaining a level 3 qualification in Early Years.
• Commitment to learning about child development from birth to five years.
• Knowledge of the EYFS and safeguarding procedures.
• Good communication skills with children and parents.
• Familiarity with play-based approaches to learning.

Responsibilities

• Assist with curriculum planning using EYFS guidance.
• Plan daily programs and routine activities with key people.
• Be a key person for a small group, building relationships with parents.
• Teach children and provide appropriate levels of support and play.
• Follow safeguarding and health & safety policies and procedures.

Skills

Willing to learn

Level 3 EY educator

EYFS knowledge

Safeguarding knowledge

Communication skills

Play-based learning

Safeguarding commitment

Equality & diversity

Family engagement

Flexible approach

Can-do mindset

Team player

Education

GCSE English

GCSE Maths

Job description

To work as a key person and as part of the nursery team under the direction of the nursery nurses, and setting managers. To provide safe, high-quality education and care for young children which meets the individual needs of children attending the setting.

Wage Competitive

Competitive wage offered

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course Early years educator (level 3)

Hours Working hours are between 7.45am- 6.00pm, Monday- Friday, all year round.

31 hours a week

Start date Sunday 15 November 2026

Duration 1 year 3 months

Positions available 1

Work

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

What you'll do at work

• Work within our team to assist with the planning of the curriculum using the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for guidance
• Work together with key people to plan daily programs and completing daily routine activities
• Act as a key person to a small group of children, liaising closely and building effective relationships and partnerships with parents/carers and ensuring each child’s needs are recognised and met
• Teaching children and offering appropriate levels of support and play experiences
• Ensure that children are kept safe and that you understand when to follow child protection procedures
• Actively participate at team, supervision and appraisal meetings, and attend training courses as required and to take responsibility for personal development
• Be aware of and adhere to all the setting’s policies and procedures, including those relating to confidentiality, equality and diversity, health and safety, fire precautions, dropping off and collection of children, food safety, cleanliness of the setting, safeguarding, setting hygiene and whistleblowing. This is not an exhaustive list of the setting’s procedures.

Candidates must be:

• Willing to learn and undertake further training
• Commitment to obtaining a level 3 qualification in Early Years
• Commitment to learning about and developing a sound knowledge and understanding of child development from birth to five years
• Knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures
• Good communication skills
• An understanding of play-based approaches to children’s learning and development
• A commitment to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding
• A commitment to equal opportunities
• A commitment to working effectively with young children and families
• A friendly and flexible approach at work which facilitates the development of effective relationships
• Can do approach to the role
• Good team player

Where you'll work

BRISTOL ROAD
SHERBORNE
DT9 4EQ

Training

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

Training provider

SOMERSET SKILLS & LEARNING CIC

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.
• 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.

Training schedule

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 4)
• maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Presentation skills
• Administrative skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non judgemental
• Patience

Other requirements

Successful applicants will be subject to a DBS check. Please consider how you will travel to the place of work, particularly if you rely on public transport.

About this employer

We are a purpose built nursery set inside The Gryphon School grounds, Sherborne. Children and families are at the heart of everything that we do. We are proud of the setting that we have and the care and education that we provide.

Company benefits

• Onsite parking

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

• At Forget Me Not, our moto is to ‘grow our own’. We look to support all apprentices through their journey and onto further education and or permanent job opportunities

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SOMERSET SKILLS & LEARNING CIC

SS&L the training provider

[e-mail]

0330 332 7997

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000060155.