Summary
We have a fantastic opportunity for an aspiring apprentice to join our team. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are ambitious and want to gain playworker qualification while getting experience. You'll create meaningful relationships with the children, your team and with parents.
Wage
£18,304 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday. The shifts rotate weekly between 7.15am - 5.00pm, 8.15am - 6.00pm, and 9.00am - 6.45pm.
44 hours a week
Start date
Thursday 2 July 2026
Duration
1 year 6 months
Positions available
2
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
* Supporting children: Providing care, play, and learning activities for children of different ages and developmental stages
* Creating a safe environment: Ensuring the crèche environment is inclusive and appropriate for children's needs and cultural backgrounds
* Communicating with parents: Sharing information about children's needs and progress with parents and carers
* Observing and assessing children: Monitoring children and discussing concerns with a line manager
* Maintaining records: Keeping records of attendance, contact details, and other relevant information
* Attending courses: Participating in courses and meetings to develop skills and knowledge
* Completing tasks: Completing tests, assignments, and other tasks as part of the apprenticeship
* Working with others: Collaborating with colleagues and other professionals to meet children's needs
* Following policies: Adhering to policies and procedures relevant to the work of the setting
Where you'll work
102-104 Park Lane
Croydon
CR0 1JB
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BEST PRACTICE NETWORK LIMITED
Training course
Early years educator (level 3)
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
Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard:
* The programme offers a blended approach including virtual classrooms, webinars, work-based tasks and online assignments
* Candidates are not required to attend college
* One-to-one support and tuition from your apprenticeship tutor, this tutor will make in person visits to you at the nursery, or schedule online meetings every 5-6 weeks
More training information
* Best Practice Network is one of the UK’s leading providers of training, development and support for education professionals
* We share the desire of every practitioner that every child, regardless of their background, should benefit from an excellent education
* We do this by working in close partnership with practising education professionals to develop and deliver high-quality CPD and qualifications that help school leaders, teachers, early years practitioners, business managers, support staff and SENCOs be the best they can be and transform the lives of children and young people
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
* English Language (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
* Team working
* Creative
* Initiative
* Patience