Early Years Apprenticeships & Qualifications
Early Years Practitioners and Early Years Educator
As an Early Years Practitioner or an Early Years Educator, you’re responsible for the care, welfare and education of very young children – one of the most rewarding careers there is.
You’ll be helping to shape a child’s future by building caring and nurturing relationships to help them feel secure, confident and independent.
Your day will consist of being responsible for planning and providing play activities to help young children’s development and learning, and to help them to become ready for school.
To be a good Early Years Practitioner, you need good communication skills and be able to work as part of a team. You’ll need to be caring and nurturing, as well as patient and understanding as you could be working with children from birth to end of Reception year.
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Become a qualified Early Years Educator through Apprenticeships
Explore career opportunities in Early Years
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Apprenticeships are a cost-effective way of reskilling your teams to have the right knowledge and behaviours to enable future success, through your people.
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Employer HUBApprenticeship funding
Understanding how to fund apprenticeships can seem complicated. As experts, we can guide you through the process and help you to make the most of funding options that are available to you, either as an SME or a larger Levy-paying organisation.
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Frequently asked questions
These apprenticeships are ideal for individuals who:
- Have a genuine passion for working with children.
- Are patient, caring, and have good communication skills.
- Are over 16 years old (some employers may prefer candidates who are 18 or older).
- Want to gain practical experience while studying.
- Don’t want to follow the traditional university route.
- May already be working in childcare and want to formalise their qualifications.
There are several benefits to choosing a childcare apprenticeship, including:
- Earning while learning: While gaining valuable experience and qualifications, you’ll also be paid a wage.
- On-the-job training: You'll work alongside experienced professionals, developing practical skills for real-life scenarios.
- Industry-recognised qualifications: Achieving a childcare qualification can lead to more career opportunities and progression.
- No tuition fees: Apprenticeships are funded, meaning you won’t have to worry about paying for courses.
- Career progression: Childcare apprenticeships can lead to further qualifications and specialised roles within the sector such as manager.
At different apprenticeship levels, you can earn the following:
- Level 2 Diploma for the Early Years Practitioner – for entry-level roles in childcare.
- Level 3 Early Years Educator – qualifies you to work unsupervised in childcare settings.
- Higher Apprenticeships (Level 4 and above) – for those wanting to move into senior or managerial roles within early years settings.
Typically, a Level 2 Childcare Apprenticeship takes around 12 to 18 months, while a Level 3 Apprenticeship takes approximately 18 to 24 months. Higher apprenticeships may take up to 2 years, depending on the level and part-time/full-time nature of the role.
Completing an apprenticeship in Early Years can open the door to various careers, including:
- Nursery assistant/nursery practitioner
- Early years educator
- Childminder
- Teaching assistant
- Supervisor in a childcare setting
- Early years centre manager (with further training)
- SEN (Special Educational Needs) support worker
- Playgroup leader
As an apprentice, you’ll be involved in a variety of tasks, including:
- Supporting children’s learning and development through play and structured activities.
- Ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of the children in your care.
- Building positive relationships with children, parents, and colleagues.
- Observing children’s progress and contributing to assessments.
- Helping with daily routines such as meal times, nap times, and hygiene practices.
- Engaging in team activities, planning, and setting up activities for children.
- Completing coursework and attending classroom sessions with your tutors.
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