Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Level 3 - City of Wolverhampton College

Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Level 3

Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Level 3

Apply Now

Study Mode: Full Time Programme Component Course Level: 3
Print Print/PDF
Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Level 3

Early years educators, and other job roles such as nursery nurse and childminders, are highly trained professionals who play a key role in ensuring that young children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.  

They work in a range of settings including full day care, children's centres, pre-schools, reception classes and as childminders.  

They may either work on their own or supervise others to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements set by the government for the learning, development and care of children from birth to five years old. 

Five GCSEs, including maths and English at grade 4/5 (C) or above 

CORE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND BEHAVIOUR REQUIREMENTS   

KNOWLEDGE 

Apprentices will develop knowledge of: 

  • Patterns of children's development from birth to five years, and have an understanding of further development from age five to seven 
  • Significance of attachment and how to promote it effectively 
  • A range of underpinning theories and philosophical approaches to how children learn and develop, and their influence on practice 
  • How children's learning and development can be affected by their stage of development and individual circumstances such as moving school, birth of a sibling, family breakdown and adoption and care 
  • Importance of promoting diversity, equality and inclusion, fully reflecting cultural differences and family circumstances 
  • Importance to children's holistic development of speech, language and communication, personal, social and emotional development and physical development 
  • Systematic synthetic phonics in the teaching of reading, and a range of strategies for developing early literacy and mathematics 
  • Potential effects of, and how to prepare and support children through, transitions and significant events in their lives 
  • Current early education curriculum requirements such as the Early Years Foundation Stage. 
  • When a child needs additional support, such as where progress is less than expected 
  • How to assess within the current early education curriculum framework using a range of assessment techniques such as practitioners observing children through their day-to-day interactions and observations shared by parents and/ or carers 
  • Importance of undertaking continued professional development to improve own skills and early years practice 
  • Legal requirements and guidance on health and safety, security, confidentiality of information, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children 
  • Why health and well-being is important for babies and children 
  • How to respond to accidents, injuries and emergency situations 
  • Safeguarding policies and procedures, including child protection, recognise when a child is in danger or at risk of abuse, and know how to act to protect them. Types of abuse include domestic, neglect, physical, emotional and sexual. 
  • How to prevent and control infection through ways such as handwashing, food hygiene practices and dealing with spillages safely 

SKILLS 

Apprentices will gain skills to enable them to:  

  • Analyse and explain how children's learning and development can be affected by their stage of development and individual circumstances, such as the needs of children learning English as an additional language from a variety of cultures 
  • Promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice 
  • Plan and lead activities, purposeful play opportunities and educational programmes which include the learning and development areas of current early education curriculum requirements 
  • Ensure plans fully reflect the stage of development, individual needs and circumstances of children and providing consistent care and responding quickly to the needs of the child 
  • Provide learning experiences, environments and opportunities appropriate to the age, stage and needs of individual and groups of children 
  • Encourage children's participation, ensuring a balance between adult-led and child-initiated activities 
  • Engage in effective strategies to develop and extend children's learning and thinking, including sustained shared thinking 
  • Support and promote children's speech, language and communication development. 
  • Support children's group learning and socialisation 
  • Model and promote positive behaviours expected of children such as turn taking and keep reactions and emotions proportionate 
  • Support children to manage their own behaviour in relation to others 
  • Plan and provide activities to meet additional needs, working in partnership with parents and/or carers and other professionals, where appropriate 
  • Carry out and record observational assessment accurately 
  • Identify the needs, interests and stages of development of individual children 
  • Make use of formative and summative assessment, tracking children's progress to plan next steps and shape learning opportunities 
  • Discuss children's progress and plan next stages in their learning with the key person, colleagues, parents and/or carers 
  • Communicate effectively in English in writing and verbally. For example, in the recording of administration of medicine, completing children's observational assessments and communicating with parents and other professionals 
  • Engage in continuing professional development and reflective practice to improve own skills, practice, and subject knowledge (for example, in English, mathematics, music, history, or modern foreign languages) 
  • Plan and carry out physical care routines suitable to the age, stage and needs of the child 
  • Promote healthy lifestyles for example by encouraging babies and young children to consume healthy and balanced meals, snacks and drinks appropriate for their age and be physically active through planned and spontaneous activity through the day 
  • Undertake tasks to ensure the prevention and control of infection for example hand washing, food preparation and hygiene, dealing with spillages safely, safe disposal of waste and using correct personal protective equipment 
  • Carry out risk assessment and risk management in line with policies and procedures
  • Maintain accurate and coherent records and reports and share information, only when appropriate, to ensure the needs of all children are met, such as emotional, physical, psychological and cultural 
  • Identify and act upon own responsibilities in relation to health and safety, security, confidentiality of information, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children 
  • Work co-operatively with colleagues and other professionals to meet the needs of babies and children and enable them to progress 
  • Work in partnership with parents and/or carers to help them recognise and value the significant contributions they make to the child's health, well-being, learning and development 
  • Encourage parents and/or carers to take an active role in the child's play, learning and development 

BEHAVIOUR  

Apprentices will demonstrate the following behaviours: 

  • Care and compassion - provide the very best childcare to every child every day combined with the ability to professionally challenge poor practice 
  • Being team-focused - work effectively with colleagues and other professionals and support the learning and development of others through mentoring and sharing of professional expertise and experience 
  • Honesty, trust and integrity - develop trust by working in a confidential, ethical and empathetic manner with a common sense and professional attitude 
  • Commitment to improving the outcomes for children through inspiration and child centred care and education 
  • Work in a non- discriminatory way, by being aware of differences and ensuring all children have equal access to opportunities to learn, develop and reach their potential 
  • Working practice take into account fundamental British values including democracy, the rule of the law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs 

Throughout the programme the apprentice will receive expert training from highly qualified staff A qualified assessor will provide an induction and regular workplace assessments 

With additional experience, an early years educator can become the manager of an early years setting and can progress to  

  • Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 5 
  • Early Years Lead Practitioner Level 6 

Deliveries

Start Date

02/09/2024

Day

Time

Duration

Course Fee

Study Mode

Full Time Programme Component

Case Studies

Events

Ready To Join Us?