Thrive Early Years Educator Apprenticeship Level 3

This apprenticeship provides early years practitioners with the knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver high-quality education and care. Apprentices will develop the relational skills needed to support children’s healthy social and emotional development, and will be empowered to create nurturing environments where every child feels safe, included and valued.

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At a glance

Trained by Thrive

LEVEL 3 Qualification

Early Years Educator

Duration icn

Typical duration

15-18 months

Delivery method

Training method

Live virtual sessions & face-to-face tutoring

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Funding value

£7,000

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DELIVERY

Delivered by Best Practice Network

Price for this programme: £7,000 £0

This course is fully funded through the Apprenticeship Levy Fund

What is the Thrive Early Years Educator Apprenticeship?

The Thrive Early Years Educator Apprenticeship is a 15-18 month, work-based programme delivered by Best Practice Network.

Designed for those working with children aged 0 to 5, the apprenticeship combines hands-on experience with expert training. You’ll develop the skills and knowledge needed to plan and deliver high-quality childcare and education in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Learning is delivered through a blend of virtual classrooms, webinars, work-based tasks and online assignments, supported by one-to-one guidance from your apprenticeship tutor. You’ll cover core modules such as safeguarding, child development and equality, diversity and SEND. You’ll also explore how strong relationships lay the foundations for social and emotional wellbeing, resilience, language, behaviour and learning.

  

Upon successful completion, you’ll be awarded a Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification. This means you’ll count towards the staff-to-child ratio in your setting, have the skills to mentor Early Years Practitioners, and be equipped to effectively support young children at this vital time of development.

 

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Why train with Best Practice Network and Thrive?

This apprenticeship combines Thrive’s expertise in social and emotional wellbeing with Best Practice Network’s award-winning training delivery.

Underpinned by Thrive’s proven approach, rooted in evidence and research, and Best Practice Network’s recognition as the Education and Childcare Apprenticeship Provider of the Year two years running, this apprenticeship offers a world-class learning experience that combines the best of both worlds.


How is this programme delivered?

This 15-18-month Early Years Educator Apprenticeship combines Thrive’s expertise in social and emotional wellbeing with Best Practice Network’s industry-leading reputation as an Ofsted ‘Good’ apprenticeship training provider. Learners can be assured of the very best in professional training and unparalleled wraparound care.

The programme includes:

  • Interactive online learning
  • One-to-one support with your apprenticeship tutor
  • Independent learning through online learning materials
  • Employer/mentor reviews throughout the whole programme
  • End-point assessments to demonstrate your knowledge

Thousands of early years professionals are already using Thrive to ensure children get the best possible start. Are you ready to join them?

Dave Simpkins quote

Dave Simpkins | Chair of Governors, West Exe Nursery School

“We’ve got happy children here, there’s no doubt about that. And happy children do well. They do well socially, emotionally, and they do well educationally.”

Katie Page quote

Katie Page | Family Support Worker, Action for Children & Devon County Council

“Thrive has given me the tools to support children and their families and it’s helped me grow personally and professionally.”

Elizabeth Leer quote

Elizabeth Leer | Deputy Headteacher and SENCO, Rothesay Nursery School

“Thrive is a constant reminder about how important it is to know about neuroscience and how children’s brains are developing, especially during the early years.”

Be first to hear when applications open for our next cohort!

 

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for the apprenticeship?
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 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.

What are the employer responsibilities for this apprenticeship?

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.

How is the programme funded?

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.

Download information about the apprenticeship levy
How is the apprenticeship delivered?

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.

More questions?

Need more information? Head to our course FAQs page for all the details.

More FAQs

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 children 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.

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