Level 3 Early years educator with SEND

Early Years Educators play a fundamental role in giving children the best possible start in life. They support children's learning, development, and wellbeing from birth to five years, creating safe, nurturing, and stimulating environments where every child can grow, learn, and reach their full potential.

Our Level 3 Early Years Educator Apprenticeship with an additional Special Educational Needs (SEN) unit has been designed to provide learners with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required to become highly skilled Early Years professionals, while developing enhanced expertise in supporting children with additional needs.

Alongside the core Early Years Educator apprenticeship, learners will complete an additional SEN unit, providing a deeper understanding of inclusive practice and how to support children with a range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Apprentices will explore strategies to support communication and language, cognitive development, sensory and physical needs, social and emotional development, and partnership working with families and other professionals.

Throughout the programme, apprentices will develop a thorough understanding of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), child development, safeguarding, observation and assessment, and planning engaging learning experiences that meet the needs of every child. The additional SEN unit enhances these core skills, enabling learners to confidently adapt activities, remove barriers to learning, and promote inclusion within their setting.

By completing this apprenticeship, learners will be equipped to deliver outstanding early years education while providing high-quality support for children with additional needs. This enhanced pathway is ideal for early years practitioners who are passionate about inclusive practice and want to make a lasting difference to every child's learning, development, and future success.

Knowledge

• The expected patterns of children’s development from birth to 5 years
• The significance of attachment and how to promote it effectively
• Systematic synthetic phonics in the teaching of reading, and a range of strategies for developing early literacy and mathematics.
• The current early education curriculum requirements such as the Early Years Foundation Stage.
• How to respond to accidents, injuries and emergency situations.

Skills

• Analyse and explain how children’s learning and development can be affected by their stage of development
• Ensure plans fully reflect the stage of development
• Support children’s group learning and socialisation
• Model and promote positive behaviours
• Carry out and record observational assessment accurately
• Plan and carry out physical care routines suitable to the age, stage and needs of the child

Behaviours

• Care and compassion - provide the very best childcare to every child every day combined with the ability to professionally challenge poor practice
• Being team-focused - work effectively with colleagues and other professionals and support the learning and development of others through mentoring and sharing of professional expertise and experience.
• Honesty, trust and integrity - develop trust by working in a confidential, ethical and empathetic manner with a common sense and professional attitude.
• Commitment to improving the outcomes for children through inspiration and child centred care and education
• Work in a non- discriminatory way, by being aware of differences and ensuring all children have equal access to opportunities to learn, develop and reach their potential.
• Working practice take into account fundamental British values including democracy, the rule of the law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Duration: 18 months

• Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence
• Observation with questioning 

Performance in the EPA will determine the overall apprenticeship standard and grade of: 

• Fail 
• Pass
• Distinction