Become an Early Years Teacher while you work
Achieve Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) in just 12 months, without leaving your current role.
This fully funded programme allows you to train on the job while building the specialist skills needed to lead high quality early education.
Delivered in conjunction with Best Practice Network.
Months Duration
Employee Incentive Grant
Teacher Status
DFE Funded
Are you passionate about shaping the future of young children? The Employed Route for EYITT allows you to train as an Early Years Teacher without leaving your current role. Fully funded by the Department for Education, this programme is the perfect opportunity to advance your career and make a lasting impact.
This 12-month programme is designed for graduates working in early years settings. You’ll gain Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) – the gold standard for professionals leading learning and development for children from birth to five.
Up to 12 months of flexible training
Fully Funded by th DfE
*Your setting receives a £7,000 employer incentive grant
live training days delivered online or face to face.
25–30 days’ experience in another early years setting.
Personal tutor, mentor guidance, and ongoing learning support.
ePortfolio, assignments, observations, and a final professional interview leading to EYTS recommendation.
This route is ideal for graduates already working in early years settings who want to:
Are you a childminder? See the route available for you.
You’ll combine realworld experience with structured learning delivered through:
We’ve partnered with A Star Equivalency to help you meet the entry requirements for EYITT — with exclusive discounts, free courses and even free tests for Best Practice Network applicants.
*Subject to eligibility and limited places.
GCSE Equivalency Tests are for applicants who cannot evidence achieving a grade C/4 or above in GCSE English, maths or science. They provide an accepted alternative qualification for meeting the entry requirements of Initial Teacher Training programmes.
Please note: an equivalency test result is not a GCSE qualification, but it fulfils the same entry requirement purpose.
Settings that support a trainee receive a £7,000 grant, helping cover costs and invest in staff development.
The EYITT childminder route offers a flexible, fully funded way to gain EYTS while running your business, helping you strengthen teaching practice, deepen early learning knowledge and build leadership skills.
EYTS enables you to: deliver higher quality education, gain national recognition, lead practice development and contribute to the future of early years teaching.
Support includes: preinterview guidance, personalised planning, monthly childminder sessions, weekly tutor checkins, communication logs and a tutor who understands homebased settings.
Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) is a 12-month training programme fully funded by the Department for Education (DfE), designed for graduates of any subject.
Completion of the programme leads to achievement of the Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) making trainees fully qualified early years teachers.
With the EYTS qualification, practitioners can teach children from birth to the age of five in various settings, including private nurseries, children’s centres, and reception classes in academies and independent schools.
The structure of Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) is designed to help trainees build on their knowledge of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and make connections across different phases of education, in order to understand the EYFS and beyond. Throughout the programme, trainees will acquire subject knowledge, professional skills and learn professional behaviours on their journey to becoming Early Years Teachers.
Below is a list of topics covered during the training days:
Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) leads to Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) and is designed for individuals seeking to specialise in early childhood development and work with children from birth to five. It is suitable for:
If you are a graduate looking to enter the early years sector, please visit the page dedicated to full-time training (also known as the Graduate Entry Route).
Entry requirements
