Article 12/05/2025

Early Years Professional Development Programme evaluation report shows positive impact on knowledge, confidence, and retention

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Evidence shows that high-quality early childhood education can significantly improve an individual’s life chances. A study from the Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) project recognised some time ago that ‘two-to-three years of high-quality early years education can provide up to eight months of developmental advantage in literacy-related outcomes compared to children who enter school with no pre-school experience, with similar effects on other cognitive and social outcomes.’ Early years practitioners have a critically important role in enabling the best possible outcomes for the children they work with, helping them to overcome the challenges and circumstances which may otherwise hold them back.

EDT’s work begins making an impact when a child takes their first steps into the world of education, to be welcomed by skilled and confident practitioners. The EYPDP had a truly nationwide impact, with at least one pre-school setting in all of England’s 153 local authorities taking part.

The third phase of the EYPDP supported 10,000 early years practitioners across four cohorts between February 2023 and March 2025. The programme provided training through online eLearning and facilitated webinars, to improve professional practice and educational outcomes for children aged two to four. Practitioners worked with a total of 118,783 children, including nearly 15,000 from disadvantaged backgrounds.

At the end of each module, participants were asked to reflect on their experiences. This report summarises their feedback, which was overwhelmingly positive: 95% were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the EYPDP, while 98% said they felt more confident and 98% more knowledgeable by the end of the programme. The EYPDP also made a significant impact on sector retention, with 94% of participants saying they felt motivated to continue working as early years practitioners after completing the programme.

We know that ensuring children are given the right development support from an early age can make a real difference, and we are proud of the widespread positive impact the EYPDP has made on early years practitioners and children across England.

Discover our full impact in our final evaluation report of the Early Years Professional Development Programme.

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Early Years Professional Development Programme phase 3 - EDT final evaluation report 2025

Our final evaluation report of the third phase of the Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP) has now been published. Funded by the Department for Education, the EYPDP supported early years practitioners in developing their skills and improving children’s outcomes. The third phase of the EYPDP supported 10,000 early years practitioners across four cohorts between February 2023 and March 2025. At the end of each module, participants were asked to reflect on their experiences. This report summarises their feedback, which was overwhelmingly positive.

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