Level 3 Childcare Apprenticeships The Ultimate Game-Changer

As childcare professionals, we strive for excellence and seek to cultivate top talent in our settings. While experience is invaluable, formal qualifications enhance our capabilities and empower staff for career growth, raising childcare standards.?

Unlike Level 2 qualifications, Level 3 courses provide deeper theoretical insights and a thorough grasp of childcare practices. Let’s look at the benefits of achieving the Level 3 Early Years Educator qualification.?

Typically lasting 18 months to 2 years, apprenticeships may vary based on the institution and whether they are full-time or part-time. The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education works with early years employers to ensure relevance and effectiveness.?

According to the government:??

“Apprenticeships can support your business to grow talent and develop a skilled workforce. ?

Offering an apprenticeship can: ?

• Introduce fresh talent and ideas to your business by recruiting new staff and upskilling existing members ?
• Align training to your business needs ?
• Boost staff loyalty and motivation ?

Studies show that because of apprenticeships: ?

• 80% of employers report higher staff retention ?
• 92% of employers see a boost in workforce motivation and satisfaction

The St Martin’s Group study on the benefits of apprenticeships found, that despite associated costs, UK employers see an average annual gain of ￡2,500 to ￡18,000 in output per apprentice during their training period.”?

Funding For Level 3 Childcare

If you hire an apprentice, they will be employed by your business for the duration of their apprenticeship, and you must pay them at least the minimum wage for their age group.??

Settings can receive full funding of apprenticeship training costs, up to ￡7,000, for eligible apprentices aged 16 to 21 (for new starts from April 1, 2024) and aged 22 to 24 at apprenticeship start, with an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) or in local authority care. Additionally, settings may qualify for an extra ￡1,000 toward training costs if the apprentice is aged 16 to 18, aged 19 to 24 with an EHCP or aged 19 to 24 and has been in local authority care.?

What Will A Level 3 Childcare EYE Apprentice Learn?

The knowledge, skills and behaviours for this apprenticeship standard are defined by the Institute for Apprenticeships at the EYE detailed webpage at: https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/qualifications/finder/early-years-educator-13.?

More specifically, according to the government EYE apprentice webpage, an EYE apprentice will learn to:?

• 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?
• Apply legislation, policy, and procedure to protect the health, safety and well-being of children in the setting (for example, food safety, diets, starting solid food, allergies, COSHH, and accidents, injuries, and emergencies)?
• Apply the principles of risk assessment and risk management within documentation and practice?
• Teach children to develop skills to manage risk and maintain their own and others safety?
• Use a range of communication methods, including technology, with other professionals to meet the individual needs of the child?
• Develop and maintain effective professional, collaborative relationships with others involved in the education and care of the child?
• Undertake the role and responsibilities of a key person?
• Recognise and apply theories of attachment to develop effective relationships with children?
• Provide sensitive and respectful personal care for children from birth to 5 years?
• Advocate for all children’s needs, including children who require SEND or EAL support?
• Promote and facilitate children’s interpersonal communication to develop their social interactions and relationships?
• Support children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture?
• Support children to understand and respond to their emotions and make considered choices about their behaviours?
• Assess the responsiveness of the environment for effective child-centred experiences in line with curriculum requirements?
• Create inclusive, child-centred, dynamic, innovative, and evolving physical environments both indoors and outdoors?
• Create an inclusive and supportive emotional environment that enables the child to feel safe, secure, respected and experience a sense of well-being; maintaining and prioritising the individual child’s voice?
• Apply strategies that support children’s ability to manage change, transition, and significant events?
• Analyse observation evidence to assess and plan holistic individual learning based on a comprehensive understanding of the child’s needs and interests?
• Facilitate and support child-centred opportunities and experiences based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy?
• Provide adult-led opportunities and experience based on the setting's curriculum and pedagogy?
• Use reflection to develop themselves both professionally and personally?

The criteria for EYE Level 3 qualifications are due to change from 1st September 2024. See https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-educator-level-3-qualifications-criteria/early-years-educator-level-3-qualifications-criteria-from-1-september-2024 for the most up-to-date criteria.??

Training providers will have their own information which is available to employers and apprentices. Parenta has trained thousands of apprentices in this qualification, and you can download a course guide for the Level 3 EYE course at:? https://www.parenta.com/courses/level-3-childcare/. This includes information about the structure of the course too.?

Roles and Responsibilities?

What Qualifications Do Apprentices Need To Apply??

To meet Ofsted staff-child ratios as a Level 3 EYE, apprentices must have a Level 2 qualification in English Language; the previous requirement for a Level 2 Maths qualification has been removed. All apprentices must undergo a clear DBS check and hold a Paediatric First Aid or Emergency Paediatric First Aid qualification as part of safer recruitment.?