Thrive-Online Enquire now

Thrive Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Level 3

Support young children to feel safe, included and ready to learn, while developing your skills as an early years practitioner.

This 15–18 month apprenticeship helps you deepen your understanding of child development, relationships and early learning, while working towards a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification.

Apply nowDownload programme guide

 

Qualifications icon
Qualifications

Level 3 Early Years Educator

Duration icon
Typical Duration

15-18 months

Training method icon
Training Method

Live virtual sessions & face-to-face tutoring

Funding icon
Funding Value

£7000

Delivery icon
Delivery

Delivered by Best Practice Network in collaboration with Thrive

 

thrive early years educator level 3

Overview

The early years are a vital time in a child’s development. The relationships, routines and environments children experience in these first years can shape how safe, included and ready to learn they feel.

Delivered by Best Practice Network in collaboration with Thrive, this apprenticeship supports early years practitioners to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide high-quality early education and care in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage.

You’ll explore child development, safeguarding, inclusive practice, teaching and assessment, and Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED), with a strong focus on how warm, responsive relationships support children’s behaviour, communication, confidence, resilience and learning.

By the end of the programme, you’ll be equipped to create nurturing environments where every child feels safe, understood and valued.

Apply now

 

 

thrive early years educator level 3

Benefits

This apprenticeship helps early years practitioners deepen their understanding of child development and relationships, while taking the next step in their career.

  • Gain a nationally recognised Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification.
  • Become a Thrive Early Years Educator.
  • Support children’s PSED, behaviour, communication and learning through positive relationships.
  • Build confidence supporting children with SEND and additional needs.
  • Feel more confident working with families, colleagues and other professionals.
  • Develop the skills to mentor Early Years Practitioners.
  • Take the next step in your early years career.
  • Qualified Early Years Educators who can count towards staff-to-child ratios.
  • Practice that supports EYFS learning, development and care requirements.
  • Stronger support for children’s Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED).
  • More confident practitioners supporting children’s daily care, learning and development.
  • Improved understanding of safeguarding, SEND and inclusive practice.
  • Stronger partnerships with parents, carers and wider professionals.
  • A more nurturing environment where children feel safe, included and valued.
  • Staff who can take on more responsibility and support colleagues.
  • A practical route for developing and retaining early years talent.

 

thrive early years educator level 3

Why Train With Best Practice Network & Thrive?

This apprenticeship brings together Thrive’s evidence-informed approach to social and emotional wellbeing with Best Practice Network’s award-winning apprenticeship delivery.

Together, the programme supports early years practitioners to build the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide high-quality early education and care, while developing the relational practice that helps children feel safe, included and ready to learn.

Delivered by Best Practice Network, an Ofsted-rated ‘Good’ provider, in collaboration with Thrive.

BPN and Thrive Co-branded delivery

 

Book Now

Programme details

What you'll learn

What you'll learn

You’ll explore how to:

  • How to plan and deliver high-quality early education and care in line with the EYFS.
  • Child development and how children learn through play.
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development, and why relationships matter.
  • Safeguarding, health and safety in early years settings.
  • SEND, equality, diversity and inclusive practice.
  • Teaching, learning and assessment to support children’s progress.
  • Partnership working with parents, carers and other professionals.
  • Creating nurturing, enabling environments.
  • Supporting children through key transitions.

You’ll apply your learning in your setting throughout the apprenticeship, supported by your tutor and employer.
What you'll gain

What you'll gain

By the end of the apprenticeship, you will:

  • Achieve a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification.
  • Become a Thrive Early Years Educator.
  • Be able to count towards staff-to-child ratios in your setting.
  • Be ready to take on more responsibility in your early years role.
  • Develop the skills to mentor Early Years Practitioners.
  • Build a portfolio of evidence to show your knowledge, skills and behaviours
How the course works

How the apprenticeship works

This is a work-based programme delivered over 15–18 months, designed to fit around your role.

You’ll apply your learning in your setting throughout the apprenticeship, with support from a dedicated tutor and structured training sessions.

You’ll take part in:

  • Live online training sessions.
  • Independent online learning.
  • Work-based tasks and online assignments.
  • One-to-one support from an apprenticeship tutor.
  • Regular progress reviews with your employer.
  • On-the-job application of your learning.
  • End-point assessment.

You’ll also complete off-the-job training, built into your working hours, giving you protected time to focus on your development. Your tutor will visit your setting, so there is no need to travel to a college.

 

thrive early years educator level 3

Who this apprenticeship is for

This apprenticeship is for practitioners working with or caring for children aged 0 to 5 in a setting that delivers the EYFS learning and development requirements.

  • Early Years Practitioners
  • Nursery Teaching Assistants & Nursery Nurses
  • Childminders
  • Early years staff with a Level 2 qualification who are ready to progress
  • Staff looking to take the next step towards becoming a qualified Early Years Educator

See our FAQs for full eligibility requirements.

Poppy quote mark

I just think it’s something everybody should be trained in – if you’re trained to work with children, you should be trained in Thrive.”

Jess Collyer
Lead Learning Support Assistant, West Exe Nursery School

 

Check eligibility & apply today

Who can apply?

This apprenticeship is the perfect next step for those with a Level 2 qualification in Early Years who want to advance their careers as Early Years Educators, Nursery Teaching Assistants, Nursery Nurses, Supervisors or Childminders.

Thank you for confirming that you meet the requirements for the Thrive Early Years Apprenticeship Level 3.

During the application process, you’ll need to provide evidence of your eligibility, so please ensure you have this ready.

Click below to start your application. We look forward to supporting you on this exciting journey!

Apply

Delivered in partnership with Best Practice Network

 

Return to previous question

Unfortunately, it seems you aren't eligible.

For more information about the eligibility criteria for this course, please read the detailed FAQs. Or to discuss best-fit alternatives, book a Discovery Call with your regional expert.

Book a Discovery Call

Return to previous question

Question 1:

Do you have experience in a relevant role and currently work and interact daily with children 0-5 in a setting that delivers the EYFS requirements?

Return to previous question

Question 2:

Do you currently hold a permanent early years role in England and have the right to work and study in the UK?

Return to previous question

Question 3:

Have you lived in the UK for at least the last 3 consecutive years?

Return to previous question

Question 4:

Are you aware that this is a 15-18 month apprenticeship (or longer if part-time) requiring 20% off-the-job training and agreement from your employer?

Return to previous question

apply now

Fees & next steps

Programme cost: £7,000 £0

This apprenticeship is usually funded through the Skills & Growth Levy, so there is typically no cost to your setting. If your setting does not pay into the levy, a small co-investment may apply.

Apply by 13th July to join the September cohort.

Apply now

Employers will need to allow full-time apprentices six hours per week of off-the-job training. Part-time apprentices must allocate 20% of their working hours for this purpose. Employers will also offer a mentor and facilitate the apprentice’s monthly virtual sessions and overall development.

There are no age restrictions for apprenticeships, and if you don’t already have qualifications in maths and English, you’ll have the opportunity to achieve Level 2 in both as part of your training.

To be eligible, you'll need to:

  • Be working and interacting daily with children aged 0 to 5 in a setting that delivers the EYFS learning and development requirements
  • Have experience in a relevant role
  • Have support from your employer and levy account holder
  • Be based in England
  • Have held a residency in the UK for the last three years
  • If aged 16-18, you'll need to have achieved GCSEs in English and Maths at Grade C (4) or above OR be able to achieve Level 2 English and Maths
  • Functional Skills while on programme

This apprenticeship is the perfect next step for those with a Level 2 qualification in Early Years who want to advance their careers as Early Years Educators, Nursery Teaching Assistants, Nursery Nurses, Supervisors or Childminders.

It’s fully funded for those working in local authority settings or those paying into the apprenticeship levy. For non-levy payers, the government offers co-funding, covering 95% of the cost, or levy transfers are available for additional support.

Learning takes place through virtual classrooms, webinars, work-based tasks and online assignments, as well as one-to-one support and tuition from your apprenticeship tutor.Your tutor will visit your setting, so there's no need to go to a college.

Delivery includes:

  • Monthly online training events to deliver 'Knowledge' elements (see below)
  • Monthly review meetings with your apprenticeship tutor
  • Monthly BPN Boost webinars and online resources for support
  • Regular observations with your apprenticeship tutor/mentor to evidence skills
  • Witness statements to evidence behaviours
Work is submitted using Bud, a cutting-edge online platform, which is easy to use and includes login access for employers to keep track of their apprentice’s progress.

Need more information? Head to our course FAQs page for all the details. Or book a Discovery Call with our Apprenticeships Team.

Book a Discovery Call

Knowledge, Skills & Behaviours

This apprenticeship blends Thrive’s proven approach to emotional development with practical tools to elevate your role. You’ll develop a rich set of knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) designed to empower you to better support young people and foster inclusive, nurturing learning environments—all while staying in your current role.

 

Knowledge

K1: The importance of equality, diversity, and inclusion, and respecting children’s social and cultural context.

K2: Safeguarding policies and procedures for children and colleagues, including child protection and wellbeing.

K3: Types of abuse including domestic, neglect, physical, emotional and sexual, and know how to act to protect children and colleagues.

K4: The legal requirements and guidance on health and safety, security, confidentiality of information, and safeguarding.

K5: The principles of risk assessment and management, and how to balance risks and benefits of activities for children.

K6: The statutory and non-statutory frameworks and guidance for provision in early years including SEND.

K7: The legal rights of each individual child according to their current and future needs.

K8: The role of colleagues and multi-agency working to support the child.

K9: The role and responsibilities of the early years educator, including providing supervision to staff.

K10: The role and responsibilities of the key person.

K11: Theories and significance of attachment.

K12: The importance of professional relationships and collaboration with parents, families, or carers.

K13: The importance of professional relationships with colleagues, other organisations, and agencies.

K14: The influence of all key individuals in children's lives on children's learning and development.

K15: The development of social skills and maintaining relationships.

K16: How children learn and develop from conception to age 7; physiologically, neurologically, biologically, psychologically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially. Including the interaction and impact of biological and environmental factors.

K17: The elements and characteristics of a wide range of enabling environments.

K18: How the design, resourcing, and use of the indoor and outdoor physical environment supports children’s learning and development.

K19: How the design of the day and expectations adapts to support and reflect all children’s current needs (for example, those children with SEND, EAL, communication difficulties, and the most able).

K20: How the organisations approach and values underpin the environment.

K21: How children experience change, transition, and significant events.

K22: The theories of play and its fundamental role in learning and development.

K23: How children develop characteristics for effective learning.

K24: How, when, and why to conduct observation and assessment.

K25: How the observation, assessment, and planning cycle is used to analyse and respond to children’s learning, development, and interests.

K26: How to create experiences and opportunities for children informed by the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.

K27: Methods of reflective practice, including supervision, and opportunities for continuous professional development.

 

 

Skills

S1: Recognise when a child or a colleague is in danger or at risk of abuse and act to protect them in line with safeguarding policy and procedure.

S2: Apply legislation, policy and procedure to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies).

S3: Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice.

S4: Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety.

S5: Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child.

S6: Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child.

S7: Undertake the role and responsibilities of key person.

S8: Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children.

S9: Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years.

S10: Advocate for all children’s needs, including children which require SEND or EAL support.

S11: Promote and facilitate children’s interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships.

S12: Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture.

S13: Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours.

S14: Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements.

S15: Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors.

S16: Create inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of wellbeing; maintaining and prioritising the individual child’s voice.

S17: Apply strategies that support children’s ability to manage change, transition, and significant events.

S18: Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child’s needs and interests.

S19: Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.

S20: Provide adult led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy.

S21: Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally.

 

Behaviours

B1: Confident to have difficult conversations.

B2: Child-centred and empathetic, valuing equality, diversity, and inclusion and the uniqueness of each child.

B3: Vigilant and act with professional curiosity.

B4: Caring, compassionate and sensitive.

B5: Honest, open, respectful, and a role model.

B6: Self-motivated, using initiative and proactive.

B7: Playful and creative.

B8: Reflective and reflexive and committed to CPD.

 

Ready to apply?

Take the next step and apply for the apprenticeship today.

Start your application Download programme guide

Still have questions? Book a Discovery Call with our team and we’ll help you decide whether this apprenticeship is the right fit for your setting.

 

Proudly part of Supporting Education Group
CONTACT US