Early Years Educator
First Steps Nursery · Exeter
EducationAdvanced Level 3On-siteEmployee wellbeing
More detail about the role;
As an apprentice in Early Years, you will join our team of 'Ofsted Outstanding Educators' to support the development of the Children in our Care who range from 3 months - 4 years old.
You will receive support and guidance from a fantastically knowledgeable team of mentors as you undertake a qualification in Early Years Education.
Our accredited provider will support you to gain a recognised Early Years Childcare qualification, supporting you to develop and understand Child Development via a mixture of online classes and in-person practical assessments. You will gain experience via a 'hands on' role at our Nursery, allowing you to learn the practical side of the role and embed your knowledge and increase confidence within your delivery of high quality Care and Education.
All of this, alongside one of the highest employer apprenticeship salaries on offer to reflect the value of our workforce and the high quality of care and education that they provide everyday, to the Children in our Care.
Job Purpose;
- To work within and contribute to the RD&E First Steps Nursery team to create an environment which fosters and nurtures the development of children under the guidance of the Nursery Manager/Deputy Manager and Nursery Nurses.
- To assess, plan, implement and evaluate care and development of children who attend First Steps Nursery. To assist in the management and organisation of work as required.
- Assist on the delivery of high-quality care and education at First Steps to ensure children achieve the best possible outcomes.
- To form part of the development of staff knowledge and skills in caring for children
- To contribute to the development of high standards of care and education for children and their families, proving feedback as necessary and taking positive steps toward implementing necessary change.
- To ensure current practice and care at First Steps Nursery reflects standards as outlined in the Trust’s Safeguarding Policies alongside the Devon Safeguarding Children Board Procedures and to be able to engage with specialist safeguarding services as and when necessary.
- To give support to all other Childcare Services provision as required.
- To work in partnership with team members, to ensure the delivery of the highest standard of skilled childcare and education, in accordance with Early Years Foundation Stage requirements (EYFS) and Trust.
- Works within established Policies and Procedures, close supervision from Early Years Educator Room Leader
- Ensure the children and parents are welcomed in to a caring, positive and inclusive environment, creating a stimulating and pleasant working atmosphere.
- Ensuring appropriate information is cascaded, shared and acted upon with Early Years Educators to ensure they can undertake their duties effectively.
- To foster good relationships with parents and guardians, initiating communication, sharing with them appropriate information about their child’s progress and promoting shared involvement in children’s learning.
- Providing and receiving complex and sensitive information where empathetic and re-assurance skills are required.
- Ensure the children and parents are welcomed in to a caring, positive and inclusive environment, creating a stimulating and pleasant working atmosphere.
- Responsible for ensuring clear and effective ‘channels of communication’ with children, parents / guardians and other staff members.
- Communicating with representatives from external agencies under the guidance of the Early Years Educator - Room Leader (i.e. Speech & Language Therapists, Health Visitors, etc..).
- Actively listening to understand the needs of the child, enabling informed decisions to be made when required and establishing a platform for every child to voice and express themselves.
- Assess and prioritise developmental requirements at an early stage to adjust work practice to meet the needs of the child utilising the core ‘Intent, Implementation and Impact’ assessment cycle.
- When a child’s needs have been identified, escalate these to the Early Years Educator - Room Leader and / or appropriate Special Education Needs and Disabilities Co-Ordinator (SENDCO) representative.
- Contribute to the daily planning of work and learning activities.
- To provide daily, interesting and varied play activities to create a stimulating learning environment which meets children’s holistic development needs.
- To assist in the preparation and clearing of daily play and learning activities, encouraging children’s participation in these tasks.
- To manage and organise materials and equipment, sharing responsibility with all Nursery staff members for their care and maintenance.
- Provide advice in relation to the care and health and wellbeing needs of the children to parents / guardians and feedback to Nursery Room Leaders and Nursery Deputy Managers as appropriate.
- Ensure all children are collected from the Nursery setting by an authorised representative arranged through prior agreement.
- Provide comfort to any child to support their physical, social and emotional wellbeing. • Promote the importance of each child’s background and varied cultural needs.
- Provide intimate care for any child as required, in line with the Nursery’s Intimate Care Standard Operating Procedure.
- To support the provision of children’s meals and snacks, ensuring all cultural and dietary needs are met at the appropriate times and to undertake the preparation of snacks, meals and cleansing of equipment as required.
Perks & benefits
Paid Training
Skills required
- Sound understanding of the needs of children from birth to 5 years
- Ability to work in partnership with parents
- Child protection procedure Awareness of Ofsted requirements
- Experience of caring for children from birth to 5 years
- Experience of team working Experience of planning and implementing appropriate activities
Qualifications required
- National Diploma Level 3 in Early Years Childcare or equivalent experience and a willingness to work towards this as part of employment
- Good basic education (Maths and English GCSE or equivalent)
- First aid certificate (paediatrics) Food Hygiene certificate - (desirable)
The essentials
Hours, commitment and the dates that matter.
Hours
37.5 hours per week
Duration
21 months (Fixed Term)
Roles available
1
Posted
16 Jul 2026
Interviews
10 Aug 2026
Starts
Sep 2026
Apply by
29 Jul 2026
Training provider
Exeter College
Delivers the training for this role and manages your application.
Where you'd be based
EX2 5DW
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