The Department for Education (DfE) Release New Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship Guidance

Today the DfE has published the training provider guidance for the new Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeships (EYTDA), marking a significant step in the continued development of early years professionals. Employer guidance will be released shortly, and the full level 6 qualification is expected to be available from September 2026.

Designed to allow trainees to ‘earn while they learn’ the EYTDA offers a new route to achieving Early Years Teacher Status. It has been developed with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education and a sector-led trailblazing group.

The apprenticeship is aimed at existing level three practitioners and school leavers who hold GCSEs in Maths, English and Science, and who aspire to become Early Years Teachers. It is designed as a three-year apprenticeship, designed to integrate into the daily work of trainees in early years settings.

Employers who pay the apprenticeship levy will be able to utilise these funds for the EYTDA. Other employers can co-fund the apprenticeship with the government contributing 95% of the total course costs.

The EYTDA will be delivered through accredited Initial Teacher Training (ITT) providers registered on the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). The DfE suggest the course will provide high-quality ITT, adhering to the Early Years Teacher apprenticeship standard, the Teacher Standards (Early Years), and the QAA Early Childhood Studies Benchmark Statements. Trainees can be new to early years or already working in the sector, allowing employers to both upskill their teams and expand them.

To support an understanding and implementation of the EYTDA, the DfE will host a series of webinars in late April and early May for training providers and employers. We will keep you posted on when invites for these events go live

Interested parties can register their interest for the webinars at EYTDA.ENQUIRIES@education.gov.uk. More information about the EYTDA is available on the GOV.UK website.

The Early Childhood Studies degree programmes offered by ECSDN member organisation are recognised as good degree programmes suitably positioned to support this apprenticeship. We are pleased to see this progression and the DfE’s recognition of the value of a highly qualified, graduate workforce that meets the needs of the early childhood sector. We will continue to report on the progress of this apprenticeship programme.