Early Years Educator – Level 3 apprenticeship

Early Years Educators, nursery nurses, and childminders are the everyday heroes who make sure young children thrive during their most important early years. They help kids learn, grow, and stay safe, and if you're ready to take the next step in your childcare career, the Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship is the perfect way to get there!

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The Early Years Educator Level 3 apprenticeship is spot-on for anyone already working in childcare or for those looking to move into key roles like nursery assistant or early years practitioner.

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What to expect

Whether you’ve already got hands-on experience or you hold a Level 2 qualification, this apprenticeship is your gateway to loads of rewarding roles – from Early Childhood Educator and Playgroup Leader to Reception Class Teacher and more.

Once you’ve completed your apprenticeship, the possibilities are endless! You could find yourself working in a nursery, a children’s centre, a reception class or even running your own childminding business. Whether you’re working on your own or leading a team, you’ll be making sure children aged 0-5 get the very best care, meeting all the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements.

 

Key Features

Unlock your potential with our Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship. Our program is designed to help you grow as a professional while shaping the future of young children. Take a closer look at what makes this apprenticeship stand out:

Nationally recognised

Gain a qualification that's respected across the UK. With trusted accreditation, your skills and expertise will be recognised by childcare providers and schools nationwide, giving you a competitive edge in your career.

Learn on the job

Earn while you learn! Our hands-on apprenticeship lets you apply your knowledge in real childcare settings, ensuring you gain practical experience while working towards your qualification.

Open doors

From nurseries to reception classes, this apprenticeship opens the door to diverse career opportunities. Whether you're aspiring to be an Early Years Educator, Playgroup Leader, or Childminder, the future is bright with this qualification.

Personalised support

Benefit from one-on-one guidance throughout your journey. Your dedicated Personal Tutor will be there to support you, helping you reach your goals and grow in confidence every step of the way.

Flexible learning

Our flexible learning options allow you to balance your studies with work and personal commitments, giving you the freedom to complete your apprenticeship at your own pace.

Your learning Journey

Advance your childcare career with Shaping Lives’ Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship. Over 18 months, you’ll develop advanced skills in child development, safeguarding, and leading enriching learning experiences. Each module builds on the last, helping you grow into a confident professional ready to shape bright futures in the early years sector. Let me know if you'd like further adjustments!

01

Nurturing early years professionals through study skills and reflective practice

Begin by developing core study skills and reflective practices that will support your professional growth throughout the apprenticeship.

02

Child wellness mastery: Navigating health, welfare, and nutrition

Master the principles of child health, welfare, and nutrition, ensuring that you can promote healthy lifestyles for the children in your care.

03

Navigating health, safety, and risk management

Learn essential health and safety protocols, including risk management, to ensure children’s well-being in any childcare setting.

04

Safeguarding foundations: Navigating plicies, legislation, and E-safety

Gain a comprehensive understanding of safeguarding policies, legislation, and e-safety to protect children in modern childcare environments.

05

Safeguarding harmony: Collaborative strategies for child welfare

Explore effective collaboration strategies for working with parents, carers, and professionals to ensure children's safety and well-being.

06

Nurturing growth: Exploring child development from 0-7 Years

Explore the stages of child development, focusing on physical, emotional, and cognitive milestones from conception through the age of seven.

07

Exploring diverse environments and theories

Learn how different environments and early childhood education theories influence child development and create inclusive, enriching spaces.

08

Insights and accountability: Observation, assessment, and information management

Build your expertise in observing and assessing children's development while effectively managing information and data.

09

Crafting enriching experiences: Nurturing learning through play and pedagogical theories

Learn how to design engaging play experiences that promote learning, guided by key pedagogical theories in early childhood education.

10

Empowering voices: A holistic approach to enhancing children’s communication development

Enhance children’s communication skills by implementing holistic, child-centered approaches to language and expression.

11

A comprehensive guide to nurturing children’s imagination and play

Develop methods to nurture children’s imagination and creativity through play, encouraging their cognitive and social growth.

12

Fostering positive behaviours and inclusive environments

Learn strategies to manage and promote positive behaviour while fostering inclusive and supportive environments for all children.

13

Supporting children through transitions and attachment

Understand the role of attachment and how to support children through key life transitions, ensuring emotional well-being.

14

Fostering growth: Mastering observation, assessment, and planning

Hone your skills in observation, assessment, and planning to tailor learning experiences that support children’s individual growth.

15

Fostering collaborative connections: Promoting partnerships

Strengthen your ability to form partnerships with parents, colleagues, and external stakeholders to enhance the childcare experience.

16

Professional growth and information management

Focus on your own professional development through effective information management and best practices in handling sensitive data.

17

A Portfolio Journey through Evidence Collection

Collect and showcase evidence of your work throughout the apprenticeship, preparing for final assessments and demonstrating your skills.18

18

Mastering the path to certification: A comprehensive guide to end point assessment

Prepare for your End-Point Assessment with a comprehensive guide to ensure you are ready to achieve certification and complete your apprenticeship successfully.

Start
01

Nurturing early years professionals through study skills and reflective practice

Begin by developing core study skills and reflective practices that will support your professional growth throughout the apprenticeship.

02

Child wellness mastery: Navigating health, welfare, and nutrition

Master the principles of child health, welfare, and nutrition, ensuring that you can promote healthy lifestyles for the children in your care.

03

Navigating health, safety, and risk management

Learn essential health and safety protocols, including risk management, to ensure children’s well-being in any childcare setting.

04

Safeguarding foundations: Navigating plicies, legislation, and E-safety

Gain a comprehensive understanding of safeguarding policies, legislation, and e-safety to protect children in modern childcare environments.

Start
05

Safeguarding harmony: Collaborative strategies for child welfare

Explore effective collaboration strategies for working with parents, carers, and professionals to ensure children's safety and well-being.

06

Nurturing growth: Exploring child development from 0-7 Years

Explore the stages of child development, focusing on physical, emotional, and cognitive milestones from conception through the age of seven.

07

Exploring diverse environments and theories

Learn how different environments and early childhood education theories influence child development and create inclusive, enriching spaces.

08

Insights and accountability: Observation, assessment, and information management

Build your expertise in observing and assessing children's development while effectively managing information and data.

Start
09

Crafting enriching experiences: Nurturing learning through play and pedagogical theories

Learn how to design engaging play experiences that promote learning, guided by key pedagogical theories in early childhood education.

10

Empowering voices: A holistic approach to enhancing children’s communication development

Enhance children’s communication skills by implementing holistic, child-centered approaches to language and expression.

11

A comprehensive guide to nurturing children’s imagination and play

Develop methods to nurture children’s imagination and creativity through play, encouraging their cognitive and social growth.

12

Fostering positive behaviours and inclusive environments

Learn strategies to manage and promote positive behaviour while fostering inclusive and supportive environments for all children.

Start
16

Professional growth and information management

Focus on your own professional development through effective information management and best practices in handling sensitive data.

15

Fostering collaborative connections: Promoting partnerships

Strengthen your ability to form partnerships with parents, colleagues, and external stakeholders to enhance the childcare experience.

14

Fostering growth: Mastering observation, assessment, and planning

Hone your skills in observation, assessment, and planning to tailor learning experiences that support children’s individual growth.

13

Supporting children through transitions and attachment

Understand the role of attachment and how to support children through key life transitions, ensuring emotional well-being.

Start
17

A Portfolio Journey through Evidence Collection

Collect and showcase evidence of your work throughout the apprenticeship, preparing for final assessments and demonstrating your skills.18

18

Mastering the path to certification: A comprehensive guide to end point assessment

Prepare for your End-Point Assessment with a comprehensive guide to ensure you are ready to achieve certification and complete your apprenticeship successfully.

Start EPA

Contact us to start your journey with Shaping Lives.

Enquire Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you’re wondering about entry requirements, the support you’ll receive, or where this apprenticeship could take your career, we’ve got you covered. Explore the answers below and take the next step towards shaping bright futures in Early Years education!

You’ll need either a Level 2 qualification in childcare or at least one year of practical experience working in a childcare setting to enroll in this apprenticeship.

The apprenticeship typically takes around 18 months to complete, depending on your pace and previous experience.

You’ll have a dedicated Personal Tutor who will guide and support you throughout the apprenticeship, helping with assessments, assignments, and any challenges you may face along the way.

Completing the apprenticeship could lead to roles like Nursery Nurse, Early Years Practitioner, Playgroup Leader, or even a Reception Class Teacher. You could also run your own childminding business!

Experience you can trust

We are dedicated to delivering exceptional apprenticeship training, a commitment reflected in our strong reputation. With a prestigious "Ofsted Good" rating, we consistently uphold the highest standards. We're also proud to be recognized as the "AAC Provider of the Year" and ranked as the "Number 1 Provider" by Rate My Apprenticeship, further highlighting our focus on quality, innovation, and learner satisfaction.

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Ready to Start? Let’s Talk!

We’d love to chat about how our Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship can help you or your team take the next step in your childcare career.