Course Overview
Working with and teaching young children is a highly rewarding career. From first steps to learning to read, preparing them for school and laying the foundations of their adult lives, the responsibilities of an Early Years Educator are vast and important. This apprenticeship will prepare you for a variety of roles in the Early Years sector, enabling you to work with children from birth to 5 years, and giving you broader knowledge of children from birth to 7 years of age. Your time building experience and confidence in the workplace will be underpinned by crucial learning in College, developing your skills and knowledge with our experienced lecturers.
What will I learn?
You’ll develop your knowledge in safeguarding, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusive practice, as well as looking how to support children with additional needs. As an Early Years Educator, you will need to build knowledge and understanding in the expected patterns of children’s developments, the range of underpinning theories and philosophical approaches to how children learn and develop, and their influence on practice. You will also develop knowledge of the current curriculum requirements, such as the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Study, Assessment and Qualifications
Completion of 20% off-the-job training during contracted apprenticeship hours
Completion of End Point Assessment
Level 3 Pediatric First Aid
Level 3 Diploma in Early Years Workforce (Early Years Educator)
Functional Skills to be completed if Level 2 English and Maths not held at the commencement of course.
Entry Requirements
All applicants for this apprenticeship must be at least 16 years old and must be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week in a relevant setting to demonstrate knowledge and skills through portfolio and observations.
All apprentices must be allocated a mentor within the workplace.
Initial Assessments.
You must have secured a position with an employer and be ready to start working with them before you can begin your apprenticeship course.
If you already have an employer and they have agreed to put you through an apprenticeship, contact the Apprenticeship team and we'll get you started. Email apprenticeships@wiltshire.ac.uk or call 0845 345 2235.
If you don’t have an employer, you can still apply for an apprenticeship directly - check out our latest apprenticeship vacancies here: https://www.wiltshire.ac.uk/information/apprenticeship-faqs/apprenticeship-vacancies
Additional Costs and Information
Duration of the course is typically 18 – 24 months for those new to the sector.
Additional costs may also be the cost of appropriate textbook.
What Could I Do Next?
NCFE/CACHE Level 4 Certificate for the Early Years Advanced Practitioner