The new Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship (EYTDA) enables people without an existing degree to earn while they learn and work towards becoming a qualified Early Years Teacher, according to the Department for Education's Do Something Big campaign.
Research shows young people are increasingly focused on practical career opportunities, with a quarter (26%) saying the chance to earn while they learn is a key factor when choosing a career. The campaign highlights different routes into a rewarding career in early years, including the new Level 6 apprenticeship.
Routes into early years careers
The Level 6 apprenticeship offers a new progression route for those who meet the entry requirements, enabling people without an existing degree to earn while they learn and work towards becoming a qualified Early Years Teacher. For those at an earlier stage of their career journey, Level 2 and Level 3 early years apprenticeships offer routes to build skills, qualifications and workplace experience, with opportunities to progress further in the sector.
The new EYTDA builds on these pathways, combining degree-level study with hands-on workplace experience and leading to Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS). Learners can earn a salary while they learn, gain Early Years Teacher Status, and make a lasting difference to children's learning and development during the most important years of their lives.
Young people's career priorities
The campaign research revealed that young people are increasingly focused on practical career outcomes. When asked what matters most when choosing a career, long term job security (40%) ranked highest, while 26% cited the opportunity to earn while they learn.
Despite growing interest in careers with progression opportunities, more than a third (36%) of young people were unaware that careers in Early Years Education can lead to senior, specialist and leadership roles. Importantly, nearly two thirds (65%) of the 2,000 respondents said they would now be more likely to consider a career in Early Years after discovering the new Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship.
Minister's response and Hertfordshire demand
Minister for Early Education, Paul Waugh MP, said: "There's never been a better time to start a career in early years, with opportunities to develop your skills, gain qualifications and progress while doing a job that makes a real difference to children's lives. Early years educators play a vital role in giving children the best start in life, and there are now more ways to build a rewarding, long-term career in the sector."
In Hertfordshire, the new route is already seeing significant demand, with the University of Hertfordshire extending its first Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship cohort from 25 to 40 students due to higher-than-anticipated interest from aspiring early years professionals across the county and beyond. The new semester marks a significant milestone for early years education in Hertfordshire, as the university welcomes the first cohort of students onto its new EYTDA and, for the very first time, opens the doors to its pioneering simulation room.
The programme includes training in the university's newly developed early years simulation room, which replicates a nursery environment to support hands-on learning. The simulation nursery is the culmination of more than three years of research, development and planning. Designed to mirror an authentic early years environment for children aged 0-5, it enables teaching to take place within a realistic nursery setting rather than a traditional classroom. The brand new facility is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the UK and has been created to help bridge the gap between theory and practice for future early years professionals.
Lesley Boyle, senior lecturer and early years lead at the University of Hertfordshire, said: "The early years workforce is vital to children's development, yet the sector has faced significant challenges for more than a decade. This new apprenticeship provides a high-quality, and fully funded route into the profession, supporting both employers and aspiring practitioners. We are proud to be among the first universities in the country to offer it."
