Early Years Teacher
Lead the learning and development of children from birth to five in Early Years settings — a specialist professional role with Early Years Teacher Status awarded through DfE-funded training routes.
Moderate
Very high
Postgraduate EYTS route: 1 year for graduates of relevant degree; employment-based routes available for those already working in early years settings; undergraduate route: 3 years
Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) via DfE-funded route: undergraduate (3 years) or postgraduate (1 year) programme; assessment against the Early Years Teacher Standards is required. EYTS is distinct from QTS. No HCPC or NMC registration — education profession. DBS Enhanced check required.
possible
What you do
Early Years Teachers (EYTs) are specialist professionals qualified to lead the learning and development of children from birth to five years across a range of settings including nurseries, pre-schools, childminding networks, and reception classes. As an EYT, you lead high-quality provision based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, observe and assess individual children's development, plan and implement responsive learning experiences, and support children's progress across the prime and specific areas of learning. You work with parents and carers as partners in their child's education and development, building relationships and sharing observations and next steps.
EYTs have a leadership and mentoring role within their setting — supporting and coaching colleagues, contributing to self-evaluation and quality improvement, and leading on curriculum or practice development. The role combines the educational expertise of a qualified teacher with specialist knowledge of child development in the early years. Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) is distinct from Qualified Teacher Status (QTS): EYTs are not automatically entitled to be called or paid as qualified teachers in maintained schools, though many settings and local authorities value and pay EYTs at equivalent or near-equivalent rates. DfE (formerly NCTL) funds several entry routes including school-based, school direct, and employment-based training.
Why this career is resilient
High-quality early years provision has strong evidence as the most cost-effective educational investment — reducing later special educational needs, school exclusions, and mental health difficulties. Government policy consistently emphasises the importance of the early years workforce, and the expansion of funded childcare hours (from 15 to 30 hours for 2-year-olds and the new funded offer from 9 months, introduced 2024–2025) is substantially increasing demand for qualified early years staff. The interpersonal, responsive, relationship-based nature of early years teaching cannot be automated.
While EYTS does not carry the same statutory weight as QTS, the expansion of funded childcare places and the policy pressure to improve workforce qualification levels creates sustained structural demand for EYTs in nurseries and pre-schools. Settings with EYTs qualify for higher funding rates in some local authority quality frameworks, giving employers a financial incentive to employ EYTs over lower-qualified staff.
A typical day
Morning: greet families at arrival, observe children's self-initiated play in the provision, and intervene with a targeted learning activity for a small group working on mathematical language. Complete a detailed learning story observation for a child nearing a developmental milestone. Brief meeting with a parent about their child's transition to school and sharing strategies to use at home. Afternoon: outdoor learning session, planning documentation, and a brief coaching conversation with a Level 3 practitioner about extending language in play.
Routes in
Full-time college course
Study full-time at a further education college, usually for 1–2 years. You will need to fund yourself or apply for a student loan (available for Level 4+ courses).
Employer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
Pay and costs
Earning potential: Early Years Teacher in private nursery: £24,000–£32,000 typically. In a local authority maintained nursery school: may attract QTS equivalent pay, £28,000–£40,000+. Reception class teacher with EYTS and QTS: on the national teachers' pay scales (Unqualified to MPS depending on employer). Pay inequity between EYTS and QTS holders in schools is a known sector issue.
Training costs: Undergraduate EYT route: standard tuition fees; student loans available. Postgraduate EYTS training: DfE funding available for some routes — check DfE/Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) website for current funded places. Employment-based routes often employer-supported. DBS check required — usually employer-funded.