How to become an early years teacher in the UK

Do you want a rewarding and engaging career working with young children? Read our helpful guide to becoming an early years teacher!

Are you interested in working with young children? If you love kids, have an interest in childcare or education and have lots of creative energy, then why not consider becoming an early years teacher? Early years education plays a critical role in opening young minds up to new ideas and as an early years teacher, you’ll have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on children’s lives. 

We’ve put together some key information, from the necessary qualifications to career progression opportunities, to help you work out whether becoming an early years teacher could be the right move for you.

What is an early years teacher?

An early years teacher works with children ages 0 to 5 years in nurseries, preschools and within the reception class or Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) class of independent schools, academies or free schools. Early years teachers play an important role in supporting the learning and development of young children.

What does an early years teacher do?

An early years teacher aims to provide a secure environment in which they can help young children meet early learning goals using various resources and planned activities.

Early years teachers support the development of knowledge, skills and understanding as well as recording observations, summarising achievements and liaising with parents or carers, other team members and educational professionals.

An early years teacher has a range of responsibilities and is often expected to:

• Help children learn through experience by providing motivation and stimulation
• Help children develop personal, social, language and physical abilities
• Support development with games, stories, drawing, songs and imaginative play, while making sure that activities meet the requirements of the educational framework for your area (Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in England, The Early Years Framework in Scotland, Education and Skills in Wales, Early Years Education in Northern Ireland.)
• Create teaching resources and visual aids
• Offer support to children in a safe learning environment and good health and safety practices
• Encourage curiosity in order to aid development
• Collaborate with colleagues and volunteers to coordinate a range of indoor and outdoor activities
• Build and maintain relationships with carers or parents
• Observe, record and assess progress
• Participate in training and attend staff meetings
• Stay up to date with curriculum changes and best practice developments.

Are early years teacher in demand in the UK?

Early years teachers are in high demand in the UK as the sector continues to experience significant growth. As a result, there are plenty of job opportunities available for qualified early years teachers.

What GCSEs do you need to become an early years teacher?

To start training to become an early years teacher you’ll need at least 4 GCSEs at grades 4 and above (grade C and above) including English, Maths and Science.

Do I need qualifications to become an early years teacher?

You’ll need specific qualifications to become an early years teacher. This usually includes completing an Early Year’s Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) which will enable you to gain Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS).

It’s possible to gain the qualifications required to work as an early years teacher in a number of ways. You can:

• Complete an undergraduate degree with course placements in a subject related to early childhood studies or child development. This usually takes 3 to 4 years if you’re studying full-time.
• Take an EYITT course after completing a degree. This is usually a one-year full-time course with work placements.
• Complete part-time teacher training while working in an early years setting.
• Do an assessment while working. This self-funded three-month pathway is for graduates with lots of experience working with children ages 0 to 5 who don’t require further training.

Whichever route you choose, you should make sure that your course leads to EYTS, which means you can teach children up to the age of 5. If you’re interested in teaching older children, for example in a primary school, you’ll usually need qualified teacher status (QTS).

In addition to your qualifications, you’ll also be required to pass an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

How much are early years teacher courses?

The cost of your early years teacher training depends on which pathway you choose.

• Undergraduate training: Undergraduate degrees can cost around £9,250 per year for full time programmes. It is a significant investment but tuition fee loans are available as well as other funding.
• Postgraduate training: The Department for Education provides a training grant of up to £7000 to cover course fees for graduates studying full time EYITT courses. There are also a number of bursaries available for postgraduate students depending on the level of their undergraduate degree.
• Postgraduate employment-based training: If you’re a graduate working in an early years setting and you want to get EYTS by doing a course, The Department for Education can provide a training grant of up to £7000 to cover course fees.
• Postgraduate assessment: If you choose this self-funded route, you can expect to pay between £2,500 to £3,000 depending on the provider.

How much does an early years teacher earn?

The amount you’ll earn as an early years teacher will depend on your employer and the type of setting you work in. An early years teacher can expect a starting salary of around £18,000 to £20,000 which will rise as you gain experience. Those in managerial and supervisory roles earn up to £40,000.

How to find early years teacher courses?

At Capital City College (CCC), we have a range of Childcare courses for learners from all backgrounds.

Level 1 courses

• Childcare – Level 1 Diploma (Holloway centre)
• Childcare (Caring for Children) – Level 1 Diploma (Holloway centre)
• Childcare (with ESOL) – Level 1 Award (Regent’s Park centre)
• Caring for Children – Level 1 Diploma (Tottenham centre)
• Early Years Settings Introduction – Level 1 Award (Tottenham centre)

Level 2 courses

• Childcare (Early Years Practitioner) – Level 2 Diploma (Holloway centre)
• Early Years Practitioner – Level 2 Diploma (Regent’s Park and Tottenham centres)
• Early Years Practitioner – Level 2 Diploma (Enfield centre)
• Caring for Children and Young People – Level 2 Diploma (Holloway and Tottenham centres)
• Supporting Teaching and Learning in Childcare and Early Years Education – Level 2 Certificate (Holloway centre)

Level 3 courses

• Childcare and Education (Early Years Workforce Educator) – Level 3 Diploma (Holloway centre)
• Early Years Educator – Level 3 Diploma (Regents Park centre)

The majority of courses offered by Capital City College (CCC) are free for school leavers aged 16-18. As part of CCC’s commitment to providing broader opportunities for adult learners, students aged 19 and over also benefit from free Level 1 and Level 2 courses (subject to UK residency requirements). There may be other costs to consider for things such as specialist materials and educational trips. You can find out more about our course fees here.

You can also find a list of accredited EYITT providers on the GOV.UK website. If you’re new to working in childcare, you may want to test the water by taking a related course before you commit to more intensive training.

Career progression

Once you have some experience under your belt working as an early years teacher, you can go on to gain additional qualifications and specialise in areas such as Special Educational Needs (SEN) or become a play therapist.

Some early years teachers choose to work towards getting Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). This means they can work as an early years teacher within a maintained school or even become a primary or secondary school teacher.

Experienced early years teachers can also progress into management roles such as supervising other staff members or managing an early years setting or even a group of settings. If you have strong business management skills as well as significant experience in the sector, you could also open your own nursery.

Early years teachers looking to share their expertise can go on to work in local authority advisory roles or get involved in mentoring and assessing trainees and early years teachers.

Working as an early years teacher in the UK is a fulfilling career which offers diversity, creativity and a unique opportunity to support young children as they learn about the world around them. To start your Early Years career, take a look at our range of Childcare courses and apply today!

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