Government announces new early years teacher degree apprenticeship standard
by Jess Gibson
A new Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship (EYTDA) standard has been published by the government.
The EYTDA is a new, three-year undergraduate-level apprenticeship qualification open to all provider types that the government hopes will “bring new opportunities to early years educators and settings” while increasing the number of early years teachers.
The programme is aimed at school-leavers and existing early years staff qualified to Level 3 with GCSEs in mathematics, English and science, and will enable a trainee to obtain a full and relevant Level 6 qualification with an early years degree and Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS).
It has been designed to fit alongside the day-to-day work in early years settings. Employers that pay the apprenticeship levy will be eligible to use these payments for the EYTDA. Employers that are not eligible to make apprenticeship levy payments can co-fund the cost of the apprenticeship training, with the government contributing 95% of course costs.
The new apprenticeship qualification complements the Early Years Initial Teach Training programme, which the Department for Education (DfE) said it will continue to support.
The EYTDA will be delivered through accredited Initial Teacher Training Providers who are registered on the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR. The government expect training providers to offer the EYTDA from September 2026, though some may be ready earlier.
More information is available .
Interested staff, employers and training providers can register their interest at EYTDA.ENQUIRIES@education.gov.uk.
Commenting, early education minister Stephen Morgan said: “Having more members of staff with EYTS in the workforce will not only improve quality, but also help providers to operate in higher staff:child ratios for three- and four-year-olds (1:13).
“We are driving up quality through our Plan for Change, and these new training pathways are a vital step in delivering an early years system that works for parents and providers, and makes sure thousands more children start school ready to learn.”