Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Level 3

To excel in the early years sector, you must embody various essential skills and qualities. Being responsive and reliable, ensuring children's safety while being emotionally intelligent and empathetic, is paramount. Additionally, an effective early years practitioner should possess patience, kindness and a caring demeanour, fostering a positive, fun and energetic learning environment. Understanding child development, being adaptable, creative, and observant, coupled with excellent communication and time management skills, are integral for delivering exceptional early years education in this dynamic field.

Choosing to pursue a career in early education and childcare will help you support young children, under 5’s as they learn, develop and prepare for school. It is rewarding, full of variety and offers progression and different career paths as you grow in experience and confidence.

Please be aware that you must be employed in a relevant role before applying for an Apprenticeship and it is crucial to have the right mindset for balancing full-time work and study.

• You will need Maths and English GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A*-C or a Functional Skill Level 2) upon enrolment

• Holding relevant experience or qualifications would be beneficial.

This occupation is found in a range of maintained and private, voluntary, and independent settings such as full day care, children's centres, pre-schools, reception classes, playgroups, nursery schools, home based provision, hospitals, social care settings, out of school environments, and local authority provision.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide high quality early education and care to children. Through an evidence based approach, they provide opportunities and learning experiences for all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Early years educators follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements set by government for the learning, development, and care of children from birth to 5 in both indoor and outdoor environments.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with children, parents, carers, colleagues, and wider multi agency professionals such as health visitors, early help services, social workers, and speech and language therapists. This includes supporting children with SEND.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for ensuring a safe and secure environment for children's learning. They ensure that the learning environment and provision is inclusive and supports all children, and demonstrate a clear understand of equality, diversity, and inclusion. Early years educator's teach and facilitate children's learning play. They apply the observation, assessment, and planning cycle to support progress and children's development. An early years educator will act as the key person for one or more children within their setting. They may play a leadership role within the setting or may act under the supervision of a manager.

All Apprenticeship standards have an End Point Assessment. This is carried out by an independent organisation who will assess whether you have achieved all the elements of your Apprenticeship. They will assess the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours gained throughout your Apprenticeship. You will only be able to undertake the EPA once you have satisfied all the requirements of the element called ‘The Gateway’. The detail can also be found on the Institute for Apprentices website.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: Some Apprenticeship standards require apprentices to pass a mandated qualification, in addition to the End-Point Assessment (EPA), to complete their apprenticeship. These qualifications will have their own assessment methods as determined by the awarding body.

You will have access to a wide range of enrichment programs designed to support your personal development, behaviours, and attitudes.

As part of the apprenticeship programme, you will gain valuable hands-on work experience that complements your classroom learning. This practical exposure is a key component of your development and ensures you are career-ready upon completion.

Apprentices who successfully complete this qualification will be able to advance their careers within the field.

Waltham Forest College is a vibrant and aspirational college and will support you to reach your career aspirations. A large majority  of learners progressed onto a positive destination either to higher levels of study, employment, or an Apprenticeship.