Early years paid degree apprenticeship: What you need to know

Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship

People looking to become an early years teacher can train while earning a salary through the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship (EYTDA).

The apprenticeship offers a route into early years teaching that combines working in an early years setting with degree-level training, meaning apprentices can earn while they learn rather than following a traditional full-time university route.

The Early Years Alliance has welcomed the paid apprenticeship as a way of helping to strengthen the early years workforce, while warning that further investment and clearer career progression are still needed.

What is the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship?

The Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship is a work-based route to becoming an early years teacher in England.

Apprentices are employed in an early years setting while completing their training. The programme combines practical experience working with babies and young children with academic study and professional development.

Successful completion leads to Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS), a specialist qualification for working with children from birth to five.

The apprenticeship is designed to help people develop the knowledge and skills they need to support children’s learning and development and take on greater responsibility within an early years setting.

Do you get paid while completing an early years degree apprenticeship?

Yes. As an apprentice, you are an employee and are paid by your employer while completing your training.

This means the route can be particularly attractive to people who want to progress their early years career without giving up employment to study full-time.

Apprentices also spend part of their working time completing the training required for their apprenticeship.

Pay will vary between employers, so applicants should check the salary and working hours offered by individual apprenticeship vacancies.

Do you have to pay university tuition fees?

Apprentices do not pay the training costs themselves in the same way as someone studying for a conventional university degree.

Apprenticeship training is funded through the apprenticeship funding system, with eligible employers also able to receive additional government support.

For the 2026/27 academic year, the Department for Education says eligible employers can access an £8,236 grant for each Early Years Teacher Degree Apprentice, subject to availability. There are 400 grants available.

The employer support grant is intended to help settings meet the additional costs involved in employing and supporting an apprentice.

How long does an Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship take?

The programme is designed to take around 33 months to complete.

During this time, apprentices combine their job with training and gain practical experience across the birth-to-five age range.

They also need experience in different early years settings as part of their training.

What qualification will you get?

Successfully completing the apprenticeship leads to Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS).

EYTS demonstrates that someone has met the Teachers’ Standards (Early Years) and has the professional knowledge and skills needed to lead education and care for babies and young children up to the age of five.

It can provide a route into more senior positions in nurseries and other early years settings, including roles involving leadership of early education and practice.

However, EYTS is different from Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which is generally required to work as a qualified teacher in maintained primary schools.

What are the entry requirements?

Entry requirements can vary between training providers and employers, so prospective apprentices should check the individual course and vacancy.

Candidates will need to meet the requirements of the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship and Early Years Initial Teacher Training.

Training providers will assess whether applicants are suitable for the programme, and safeguarding checks are required because apprentices will be working with children.

Why has the apprenticeship been introduced?

The early years sector has faced significant challenges recruiting and retaining qualified staff.

A paid route to degree-level training can help people develop their careers without having to choose between continuing to earn and undertaking higher-level study.

It can also help existing early years practitioners progress into more senior and specialist positions.

Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, welcomed the development but said more needs to be done to address the pressures facing the workforce.

He said:

“We welcome news of this paid degree apprenticeship as a genuinely positive step towards supporting and strengthening the early years workforce.

“However, with the sector facing an unprecedented recruitment and retention crisis, the reality is clear: much more investment, recognition and defined career progression will be needed to build the stable, high-quality workforce that children truly deserve.”

What jobs could an early years degree apprenticeship lead to?

Achieving Early Years Teacher Status can open up opportunities for career progression within nurseries, pre-schools and other early years settings.

Depending on the setting and your experience, this could include progressing towards roles such as an early years teacher, room leader, curriculum or practice lead, deputy manager or nursery manager.

The apprenticeship can also help experienced practitioners build the leadership and specialist skills needed to support other members of an early years team.

How do you apply for an Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship?

You will need an employer to undertake an apprenticeship because it combines a paid job with training.

Vacancies can be advertised through the Government’s Find an Apprenticeship service, individual nursery and early years employers, and apprenticeship training providers.

Before applying, check the entry requirements, salary, working hours, training provider and qualification offered by the individual vacancy.

If you already work in a nursery or other early years setting, you can also speak to your employer about whether they would support you in completing an Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship.

Find your next early years job

Whether you’re starting your career in childcare or looking for your next opportunity, there are a wide range of roles available in nurseries and early years settings.

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