Professional qualifications

Find out how to gain a level 6 qualification through the Early Years Initial Teacher Training route.

Early Years Teacher Status Pathway

In September 2014 Early Years Professional Status (EYP) was superseded by Early Years Teacher Status (EYT), the route is now referred to as Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT). For the purpose of this web page when we refer to Early Years Teacher Status (EYT) we mean both the new EYT and the old EYP.

All of the post graduate Early Years Initial Teacher Training Routes are FULLY FUNDED by the Department for Education except the Assessment Only Route. Your place of work can access an Employer Incentive of up to around £7,000 whilst you are studying.

Early Years Initial Teacher Training and Graduate Routes

To access any of the EYITT routes candidates must hold a Full Degree. Therefore if you currently hold a Foundation Degree/HND you will need to 'top up' to a Full Degree (Level 6) or Honours Degree.

If you are currently working in Early Years and hold a Level 3 Qualification you will first need to undertake a Level 5. These bridging qualifications take you from Level 3, to Level 4, finally qualifying with a Level 5:

If you are currently working in Early Years and hold a Level 5 HND or Foundation degree your next step is to undertake a Top Up Degree. Full details of availability via the colleges and universities including the cost, course length, dates and times for Top Up Degrees are available below:

For information regarding funding via Student Finance/Advanced Learner Loan please see Level 4 and 5 Qualifications.

If you are currently working in Early Years and hold a Full Degree:

Routes typically commence once per year in September, training providers will interview potential candidates over the Spring and Summer months, enrol early to avoid disappointment. The Graduate Employment Based route to Early Years Teacher Status is typically delivered over 12 months part time alongside your early years employment; includes a £7,000 employer incentive and the student must undertake additional placement(s) to cover birth to 5 including KS1.

For those who are not employed; The Graduate Entry training route to Early Years Teacher Status is delivered over 12 months full time and includes 120 days placement and students can receive a bursary of up to £5,000.

A further entry requirement onto EYITT – candidates will have to prove (show certificates) that they hold GCSE (or O'Level) (grade 4 or above or C or above) or CSE1 in English, Maths and a Science. Please note: Level 2 Literacy/Numeracy/Key Skills/'For Life' will not be accepted, a certificate from www.equivalencytesting.com will be accepted.

Student finance information for people who have studied before

Generally, you'll only get student finance if you're doing your first higher education qualification. This is true even if your previous course was self-funded. However, you may still get it if, for example:

  • you change course
  • you leave your course but decide to start again
  • you're 'topping up' a higher education qualification, eg you've finished an HNC, HND or foundation degree and now want to do an honours degree

University of Northampton

University of Derby

Loughborough College

SMB College Group 

Best Practice Network

Pen Green

Doncaster College and University Centre

University of Warwick and North Warwickshire and Hinckley College

Nottingham Trent University

Further reading