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.
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.
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 levyCompleting the Thrive Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship equips you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver high-quality education and care for children aged 0 to 5. You’ll deepen your understanding of child development, emotional wellbeing and the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), while learning how to create nurturing, inclusive environments where children feel safe and valued.
You’ll also gain a nationally recognised Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification. This enables you to count in staff-to-child ratios, which is a key requirement for many roles in early years settings. This apprenticeship supports your personal and professional development, opening the door to roles with more responsibility, such as Early Years Educator, Nursery Nurse or Childminder.
Due to the time commitment, we recommend that only one candidate per setting takes part on any given cohort.
Yes. One of the core modules in the Thrive Early Years Educator Level 3 Apprenticeship focuses specifically on equality, diversity and SEND. Apprentices will gain the knowledge and practical strategies needed to support children with special educational needs and disabilities, ensuring they feel safe, included and valued.
The programme helps you to build strong relationships, promote emotional wellbeing and work collaboratively with families and professionals, all of which are essential for effectively supporting children with SEND in early years settings.
Yes, sessions are scheduled within typical school/nursery hours, with options for morning or afternoon to align with off-the-job training requirements.
This apprenticeship is a work-based programme for people already in employment.
Your employer will need to give you time during your working hours each week for activities and learning related to your apprenticeship. This is called off-the-job training.
Best Practice Network and Thrive will work with employers to ensure this time is spent on activities that both build the apprentice’s capabilities and benefit the organisation.
Off-the-job training can include:
The exact blend of activities will be agreed with the apprentice and employer at the start of the programme.
Full-time apprentices are required to have six hours per week of off-the-job training, while part-time apprentices must allocate 20% of their working hours for this purpose.
The apprenticeship will help you to become more effective in your current role by strengthening your practical skills and knowledge in key areas, such as safeguarding, planning and delivering learning, working with families, and supporting communication and emotional development.
It also builds your confidence to take on more responsibility within your setting, including mentoring colleagues and contributing to high-quality care and education. The blend of expert-led training and hands-on experience means you’ll be able to apply your learning straight away and make a positive impact on your setting as you progress through the programme.
All early years settings that follow the Early Years Foundation State (EYFS) framework are expected to have staff with Level 3 qualifications to meet statutory staffing and ratio requirements. This includes:
The Level 3 Early Years Educator apprenticeship is a great progression route for a practitioner who wants to pursue a career as an Early Years Educator, Nursery Teaching Assistant, Nursery Nurse, Supervisor, or Childminder.
Salary progression will vary depending on the setting, additional responsibilities, and local pay structures. If you're wondering what this could mean for your career, it’s always worth speaking with your employer about potential next steps after completing the apprenticeship.