Early Years Educator

You'll need to get early years teacher status (EYTS) and meet the teachers' standards by completing a course in early years initial teacher training (EYITT).

There are several ways to do this:

• study an undergraduate degree in a subject related to early childhood studies or child development, along with course placements
• take an EYITT course after you finish your first degree
• complete part-time teacher training, if you already have a degree and are working in an early years setting

You can also have your teaching skills assessed over 3 months to make sure you meet the teachers' standards. For this route, you must be a graduate with a lot of work experience across the 0 to 5 age range, and have knowledge of key stages 1 and 2 in schools.

Early years teacher status qualifies you to teach children up to age 5. If you want to teach older children, or teach in a primary school, you'll usually need to get qualified teacher status (QTS).

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• student finance for fees and living costs
• university courses and entry requirements

You could work your way into this role by starting as nursery worker or teaching assistant and doing a part-time degree in childhood studies or child development.

You'll usually need experience of working with children and young people.

You can get this through:

• paid work
• volunteering at a school
• youth work
• a holiday scheme

Career tips

You can search for jobs in schools through the Teaching Vacancies service.

Further information

You can find out more about teaching in early years from Get Into Teaching and Early Years Careers.

You can contact Early Years Careers by phone or email to get answers to questions about starting a career in early years education.