What qualifications do you need to become a nursery or early years (EYFS) teacher?

What is EYFS?

EYFS stands for Early Years Foundation Stage, the statutory framework that sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to age five. Every nursery, pre-school, childminder and reception class in England has to follow it. If you’re thinking about working with under-fives, whether that’s in a private nursery, a maintained nursery school or a reception class, EYFS is the framework you’ll be working to.

Early years roles can cover a wide range of settings:

• Private, voluntary and independent nurseries
• Nursery schools and children’s centres
• Reception classes in primary schools, academies and free schools
• Independent school infant classes

The good news is there isn’t just one way in. Whether you’re leaving school at 16, switching careers, or already have a degree, there’s a route that fits around you.

Working in early years

Working with young children is a genuinely rewarding career. You get to see the difference you make almost every day, whether that’s a child taking their first steps towards reading, growing in confidence, or simply having a safe, stimulating place to learn and play while their parents are at work. It’s also a sector with a clear route for progression, from practitioner to educator, to room leader, to nursery manager or qualified teacher, so wherever you start, there’s somewhere to go.

If you’re ready to take the first step, the Department for Education’s getting started in early years guide is a good place to start.

Qualifications

The qualification you need depends on the level of responsibility you want, from supporting children under supervision right up to leading a curriculum as a qualified teacher. Here’s how the levels break down. 

Paediatric first aid: whichever level you’re working towards, you’ll also need this. Under the EYFS framework, anyone with a Level 2 or Level 3 childcare qualification gained from 30 June 2016 onwards must hold a valid Paediatric First Aid (PFA) or Emergency Paediatric First Aid (EPFA) certificate within three months of starting, in order to be counted in staff-to-child ratios.

Level 2: Early Years Practitioner

This is the entry point into the sector. You can work towards it through a Level 2 Early Years Practitioner qualification (equivalent to GCSEs) or a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship. As a Level 2 practitioner, you can work in a nursery and be counted in staff-to-child ratios, but there always needs to be a Level 3 member of staff on site, and Level 2 staff can’t step into room leader or management roles.

You’ll typically need:

• Some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, though many providers will accept you without these and support you to gain them alongside your training.

Level 3: Early Years Educator

This is the qualification most nurseries look for and the one that lets you work unsupervised, lead activities and, with experience, move into room leader roles. You can get there through a college course (such as a BTEC or CACHE Level 3 Diploma) or a Level 3 Early Years Educator Advanced Apprenticeship, which usually takes 12 to 18 months and lets you earn while you learn.

You’ll typically need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a college route
• Some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for the apprenticeship route
• A Level 2 qualification in English and maths (or to achieve one within two years of starting)

Level 5: Early Years Lead Practitioner

If you want to move into a more senior role, such as leading a nursery’s curriculum, a Level 5 qualification (equivalent to the second year of a degree) is the next step up. This is often studied as an Early Years Lead Practitioner Apprenticeship, or through a foundation degree or HND (Higher National Diploma) in early years, early childhood studies or childcare.

Level 6: Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

At Level 6, there are two teaching qualifications, and which one you need depends on where you want to work. Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) prepares you to teach and lead learning for children from birth to age five in early years settings such as nurseries, and in the early years provision of academies, free schools and independent schools. If you want to teach in a primary school, including a reception class, you’ll need Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) instead. QTS is the standard teaching qualification for teachers working in primary and secondary schools in England.

There are a few routes to QTS, all of which lead to the same qualification:

• Undergraduate training: a full-time degree, such as a BEd or a BA/BSc with QTS, taking 3 to 4 years
• Postgraduate training (PGCE): for people who already have a degree, usually a one-year course combining classroom placements with academic study, available through university-led or school-led (School Direct) routes
• Teacher Degree Apprenticeship: combines a degree with paid employment in a school, so you earn while you train
• Assessment only: a self-funded route for experienced, unqualified teachers who can already demonstrate the required teaching standards without further training

You’ll typically need a UK degree (or equivalent) and GCSEs at grade 4/C or above in English, maths and science to start postgraduate training, or GCSEs at the same grades plus a Level 3 qualification for the degree apprenticeship route.

Already have a relevant qualification and not sure if it counts? The government keeps an official list of recognised early years qualifications you can check yours against.

*Courses such as Health and Social Care or Teaching and Learning aren’t accepted as relevant qualifications in EYFS, so it’s worth checking the government’s list of recognised early years qualifications before enrolling on anything.*

What does an early years teacher do?

Early years teachers and educators work with children from birth to five to support their learning and development ahead of starting school. Day to day, this can involve:

• Planning and leading age-appropriate activities across the areas of learning in the EYFS framework
• Observing and assessing children’s progress and development
• Supporting children’s physical, emotional and social wellbeing, alongside their learning
• Working closely with parents and carers to share progress and involve them in their child’s development
• Safeguarding children and following child protection procedures
• Supporting children with additional or special educational needs

Find out more about our nursery and early years roles and register with us today to start your journey!