Course overview

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 be working on their own or supervising others to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) requirements set by Government for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old.

An Early Years Educator:
• Plans and supervises child initiated and adult led activities which are based around the needs and interests of each individual child
• Supports children to develop numeracy and language skills through games and play
• Has key person responsibility to help ensure each child feels safe and secure
• Observes each child and shapes their learning experience to reflect their observations
• Meets the care needs of the individual child such as feeding, changing nappies and administration of medicine
• Works in partnership with other colleagues, parents and/or carers or other professionals to meet the individual needs of each child

Within this course you will learn 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.

Delivery method:
Full Time Apprenticeship with 1 day per week at college during term time

Additional Costing information:
£6,000 or £300 Employer Contribution or up to 100% Government Funding and Additional Incentives may be available.

Entry requirements

Working at Level 2 English and Maths. Level 2 Childcare qualification or equivalent experience welcomed. Individuals will undergo all the checks as per the EYFS requirements to ensure suitability to work with children.

How will I be assessed?

Apprentices without Level 2 English and Maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking their End Point Assessment.
Apprentices must successfully complete the Level 3 Award in Paediatric First Aid. (RQF) or Level 3 Award in Emergency Paediatric First Aid (RQF) to meet the EYFS requirements.

What can I do next

With additional experience, an Early Years Educator can become the manager of an early years setting.