Early Years Professional Development Programme

Improving practice to support children's development in the early years

Overview

This programme is now closed, and we are no longer accepting registrations.

The Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP), funded by the Department for Education, supported early years practitioners working with children aged two to four in pre-reception settings, helping them to improve their professional practice and children’s outcomes.

The high-quality, evidence-based, flexible training consisted of online eLearning and facilitated webinars, and covered three core modules with content created by industry specialists: Communication and Language; Early Mathematics; and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

EYPDP3 was developed as part of the UK government’s Early Years Education Recovery Programme, which aimed to address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the early years sector. Between 2019 and 2025, over three phases, the EYPDP supported over 14,500 early years educators working across all 153 local authorities in England.

The EYPDP had an overwhelmingly positive impact on participants, with 98% saying they felt more confident and knowledgeable as a result. Overall, 94% reported that they felt motivated to continue working as early years practitioners after completing the programme. Details about the impact of the programme can be found in the final evaluation report.

Benefits of this programme

Government funded professional development for eligible early years practitioners in England
Flexible blended learning programme, delivered over an 8 month period
Content written by industry experts covering Communication and Language, Early Mathematics and PSED
Excellent feedback from previous participants
Endorsed by OCN London

Key points

Evidence increasingly suggests that specialised training for Early Years staff is a more promising way of raising the quality of Early Years provision than either increasing the number of hours children attend, or improving the physical environment. These 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.

The programme has had a great impact on my provision, not only did it refresh previous knowledge but also taught me so much more. It gave me new ideas, and a new found enthusiasm for teaching certain areas of the EYFS. I have found the provision audits incredibly helpful, and made changes to my setting accordingly to accommodate the new things I have learned. The children have really benefited from this, and I have found good progress made in mathematics and communication and language.
Charlotte, Childminder, Northumberland