Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Level 3
Become an Early Years Educator and support children to get the best start in life. Ideal if you already work in a setting or are looking to begin a rewarding career in Early Years education.
Apply by August 23 to secure your place on the autumn intake!
Apply Now Register Interest
Free for learners, up to 100% funded for employers
Course duration
up-to 18 Months
Full and Relevant EYE Level 3
In-house tutor visits
Online training events
Trainees count as a Level 2 and on completion as a Level 3
The Job Role
An Early Years Educator (EYE) is responsible for planning and providing effective care for children aged 0-5 in various early years settings. They count towards the Staff: Child ratio and can mentor Early Years Practitioners. They will implement the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) that enables children to prepare for school.
The Apprenticeship
The EYE Level 3 apprenticeship is a work-based programme completed over 15-18 months. On successful completion, you will be awarded the Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification and achieve full and relevant status inline with the EYFS. During this programme, you will gain hands-on experience in a professional setting while studying for your qualification through Off-the-Job training. Additionally, you will earn at least the Apprentice Minimum Wage.
Early Years Webinars
Join our upcoming webinars and watch recordings of past sessions designed to support early years professionals.
Stay up to date with training opportunities, funding guidance and practical insights from our experts.
Register or watch now →
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Thrive Early Years Educator
If you’d like to complete this apprenticeship with additional learning on child development, behaviour, and wellbeing, you can apply for the Thrive Early Years Educator version of the programme. This variation includes all the core training plus specialist Thrive content woven throughout.
Why choose Best Practice Network?
- Our award winning Apprenticeships team are always there to help from applications to graduation
- National delivery, we have Apprenticeship Tutors based across England
- Fantastic well-being programme BPN Boost to support learners throughout the programme
- Our employees and Apprenticeship Tutors promote our exceptional values; to inspire learning, work together, act with integrity and strive for excellence
- Individual learning plans and additional support are available for learners with additional learning needs
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- Suitable for someone who is already working in, or aspiring to work in Early Years Childcare
- It is a great progression route for a practitioner who already holds a Early Years Practitioner Level 2 qualification and want to pursue a career as an Early Years Educator, Nursery Teaching Assistant, Nursery Nurse, Supervisor, or Childminder
- There is a high level of support from your Apprenticeship Tutor with monthly visits and online webinars
- There are monthly start dates
- The Apprenticeship tutor will visit your setting, no need to go to a college
- Work is submitted using Bud, the cutting-edge online platform, which is easy to use and includes login access for employers to keep track of their apprentice’s progress
Delivery includes:
- Monthly online training events to deliver Knowledge elements
- Monthly review meetings with your Apprenticeship Tutor
- Monthly BPN Boost webinars and online resources for support
- Regular observations with Apprenticeship Tutor/mentor to evidence skills
- Witness statements to evidence behaviours
11 Core Modules:
During the apprenticeship, there will be 11 core modules that will be taught over monthly webinars, online learning and in the workplace. Your apprenticeship tutor will work with you to personalise your journey to meet the needs of you and your setting.
Module 1 - Personal development
Module 2 - Safeguarding
Module 3 - Health and safety
Module 4 - Child development
Module 5 - Theories of play and learning
Module 6 - A unique child
Module 7 - Enabling Environments
Module 8 - Teaching, learning and assessment
Module 9 - Equality, diversity and SEND
Module 10 - Partnership working
Module 11- Transitions
There will also be sessions to support you to prepare for your End-Point Assessment.
Functional Skills:
If you are aged 16 to 18 and have not secured a grade 4 (C) or above in GCSE maths and English, you will need to complete Functional Skills Level 2 in maths and English.
If you are over 18 you will agree with your setting as to whether you will need to complete Functional Skills as part of your apprenticeship.
Either way, we offer excellent support from our in-house Functional Skills Tutors using a range of materials to suit you and the way you learn.
Your employer must give you time during your working hours each week for activities and learning towards your apprenticeship. This is called Off-the-Job training. For 30 hours or more, this will be an average of 6 hours per week, that can be spread out in any way that suits yourself and your setting.
Examples of Off-the-Job training includes:
- Research
- Interactive online training
- Training events
- Inset days
- Coaching and mentoring
- Reflective learning
- Shadowing
- Networking and moderation events
- Project activities
The End-Point assessment will be carried out by an external organisation. Your Apprenticeship Tutor will make sure that you are prepared for these assessments throughout your apprenticeship with mock assessments and support. The EPA will consist of:
Assessment 1: Observation with questioning in the workplace. This will be a 50 minute observation with 30 minutes of questioning.
Assessment 2: Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence, carried out in the workplace or over video conference. This will be 90 minutes and consist of 10 questions.
You will receive a grade of fail, pass, merit or distinction for these assessments. If you receive a fail, there is an opportunity to resit in agreement with your employer. Please note: the employer will be responsible for any costs incurred.
There are no age restrictions for apprentices and there are options to gain level 2 in maths and English if you have no qualifications.
Apprentices must have:
- Support from your employer and levy account holder
- Experience in the role or similar roles
- If aged 16-18, GCSE’s in English and Maths at Grade C (4) or above OR able to achieve Level 2 English and Maths Functional Skills whilst on programme
- Held a residency in the UK for the last three years
- Be working and interacting on a daily basis with children in the birth to 5 age range in accordance with the EYFS, the setting must be delivering the EYFS learning and development requirements
Using Your Growth and Skills Levy
- The Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship can be funded through your setting's Growth and Skills Levy
- Funding can be reserved and allocated through your Apprenticeship Service (AS) account. If you don't yet have an AS account, we can support you with the setup process
- The apprenticeship costs £7000 and is funded through your setting's levy funds
If Your Levy Funds Have Been Used
- The government will fund 75% of the training cost (£5,250)
- Your setting will contribute the remaining 25% (£1,750)
If Your Setting Does Not Pay the Levy
- 100% government funding is available for apprentices aged 16-24
- For apprentices aged 25 and over, the government pays 95% of the training costs and your setting contributes just 5%
- Contact us for further information and guidance on available funding
Employer Incentive
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has introduced a targeted package of financial incentives to make recruiting young people into the education sector more accessible and cost-effective:
- An employer incentive payment of £1,000 is available for new apprentices aged 16 to 18 and those under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan
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£2,000 foundation apprenticeship incentive for hiring apprentices ages between 16-21 (22-24 for apprentices with an EHCP, care leavers, or prisoners or prison leavers)
- The DfE have introduced a cash incentive of up to £3,000 for hiring an apprentice aged 16-24 that has been on Universal Credit for 6 months
What is the Growth and Skills Levy?
- The levy is paid by employers with an annual payroll of more than £3 million. Employers contribute 0.5% of their annual pay bill into the levy
- Apprenticeship funding can be used for both new recruits and existing employees
Are you looking to do an apprenticeship?
If you are employed within a setting...
Please check that your employer is supportive of you going on programme and then apply directly here. When you submit an application with your setting’s details, an employer declaration will automatically be sent across for them to complete.
Apply Now
If you are not employed within a setting...
Please look at our list of vacancies that we are currently recruiting for throughout the country. Our recruitment team will then be in touch to book an online screening interview. If you are deemed successful at this stage, your details will be sent to the employer, who will then decide whether to book you in for an in person formal interview or work trial.
Find an Apprenticeship
If you do not find a vacancy which is within your area, do not worry!
Simply apply for our programme here and our recruitment team will be in touch to book an online screening interview. If you are deemed successful at this stage, we will support you in finding a setting local to you.
Are you an employer and looking for an apprentice?
If you want to train your current staff members through an apprenticeship, ask them to apply through our Apprenticeship Recruitment.
If you are looking for apprentices and want us to find candidates in your area, fill out our vacancy form. This will help us customise the candidates to your specific needs.
To recruit on your behalf, our team will:
- Collect applications for your vacancy every week
- Conduct screening interviews to determine if the candidates are suitable for the role and the apprenticeship programme
- Successful candidates will be sent to you with their CV, application, and interview notes. You can then decide whether to invite them for a formal interview or work trial
- Once you offer a candidate a position and they accept, we will help you to enrol your candidate onto our programme and help you access funding
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