The early years of a child's life are the most crucial for development. Research shows that early education plays a vital role in shaping a child's social and emotional growth, laying the foundation for lifelong learning. Strong leadership in early years settings directly impacts children's outcomes, and continuous professional development (CPD) for early years professionals drives up the quality of education. Recognising these factors, the new Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship with Early Years Teacher Status (EYTDA) is designed to enhance workforce expertise and support the next generation of young learners

The Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship was developed by a trailblazer group consisting of 34 early years organisations, employers and experts with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).

An implementation group was then put together by the DfE to look at how the apprenticeship standard could best be delivered. I was truly honored to be invited to join the group and am very excited to see the impact it will have going forward.

Both the Trailblazer and Implementation groups have worked tirelessly to ensure this apprenticeship meets the needs of the sector, empowering more passionate early years professionals to achieve a full and relevant degree alongside Early Years Teacher Status.

What is the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship?

The EYTDA is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at equipping early years professionals with the skills, knowledge, and qualifications necessary to deliver high-quality early education. This apprenticeship will provide a structured pathway for both new entrants and experienced practitioners to achieve Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) while obtaining a full and relevant early childhood degree. The goal is to elevate the early years sector into a recognised and valued profession, ensuring that children receive the best possible start in life.

Benefits of the EYTDA

The introduction of the EYTDA brings multiple benefits to both trainees and the early years sector as a whole:

• Highly Qualified Workforce – The EYTDA creates a workforce of level 6 early years professionals, helping to maintain and enhance early years education quality.
• Career Progression – The program provides a structured career pathway for early years practitioners, allowing them to develop professionally and gain recognition within the sector.
• Workforce Expansion – With increasing demand for free entitlement places, the EYTDA supports workforce development, ensuring that there are enough qualified professionals to meet the needs of young learners.
• Practical Experience – Apprentices gain hands-on experience in early years settings while studying, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios.
• Government funding – For companies who do not pay into the levy, the EYTDA will be fully funded by the government if the apprentice is aged 21 or under (or 24 if the apprentice has an ECHP plan or is a care leaver). There will be a 5% employer contribution if the apprentice is over 21 (or 24 if a care leaver/has an ECHP). If the employer is a levy paying employer the full cost of the apprenticeship will be covered by their levy contributions. This means that for the apprentice they can gain a degree without incurring student debt, which may have been a barrier to them gaining a degree previously.

Entry requirements

To be eligible for the EYTDA, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Achieve a standard equivalent to a grade 4 in GCSE English and mathematics. (Qualifications in key and functional skills at level 2 are not equivalent to GCSEs in terms of content. EYTDA training providers will look for additional evidence of breadth of knowledge and understanding in applicants who have key and functional skills certificates but do not have GCSEs at grade 4 or above in English and mathematics.)
• Hold a level 3 qualification (though it does not need to be a full and relevant early years qualification).
• Be employed or starting employment in a paid position within an early years setting that follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
• Be at least 16 years old.
• Meet residency requirements as per apprenticeship funding rules and the right to work in the UK.
• Be eligible for funding under the apprenticeship funding rules for the year the trainee starts their course.
• In addition, apprentices will need to have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade 4 in the GCSE examinations in science.*

* English and maths are mandatory requirements. Science is not mandatory but highly recommended as an entry requirement to ensure academic rigour, that trainees are fully equipped to become early years teachers, and match Initial Teacher Training requirements for primary teaching.

Opportunity for those who have completed the level 5 EYLP apprenticeship

This long-awaited opportunity is a game-changer for educators who have completed or are currently pursuing the Level 5 early years lead practitioner apprenticeship, finally providing them with a much-needed pathway to ‘top up’ their qualifications – something that has been limited until now.

The level 5 early years lead practitioner apprenticeship (EYLP) has been mapped against the EYTDA requirements. Those who have successfully completed the EYLP are eligible to step on to the EYTDA at the beginning of learning stage 2 provided they meet all other entry criteria, including GCSE requirements, and the training provider offers this option.

A step towards excellence in early education

The EYTDA is a significant step towards strengthening the early years workforce and ensuring that children receive high-quality early education. By combining academic study with hands-on experience, the apprenticeship equips professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary to shape the future of early education in the UK. As the sector continues to grow, investing in professional development will be key to providing young children with the best possible start in life.

For those passionate about early education and eager to advance their careers while making a lasting impact on young learners, the new EYTDA offers an unparalleled opportunity.

For further information please follow see the DfE provider guidance: Early years teacher degree apprenticeship: guidance for training providers - GOV.UK

In addition, the DfE will also be hosting a series of webinars to provide further clarification and answer questions from training providers and employers during the weeks commencing 25th April and 5th May. Please register your interest at: eytda.enquiries@education.gov.uk