Early childhood education in the UK

Development gaps and ‘word gaps’ can emerge early in a child’s life, and their effects can be felt throughout their school years and into adulthood. For example, children who are behind in language development at the age of five are six times less likely to reach expected standards in English by the age of 11; and they are 11 times less likely to reach those standards in mathematics. Furthermore, 40% of the development gap between disadvantaged 16-year-olds and their peers had already emerged by the time they were five years old. 

EDT has been working with the UK’s Department for Education (DfE) and early years sector for many years, reaching thousands of educators and young children across England through our programmes. 

We recently completed delivery of the DfE’s Early Years Professional Development Programme (EYPDP), and we are incredibly proud of the impact it has had. Between 2019 and 2025, the EYPDP supported over 14,500 early years educators working across all 153 local authorities in England. 

We currently offer professional development opportunities through the Skills Bootcamps in Early Years programme, which is part of the government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee. This DfE initiative boosts participation in the early years sector, by offering free, accredited early years training courses.  Skills bootcamps take place in a range of early years settings, including pre-schools, nurseries, childminders, and school reception classes. 

We also deliver the DfE’s National Professional Qualification (NPQ): Early Years Leadership to support current and aspiring nursery managers to develop expertise in early years education and leadership. This qualification empowers current and future leaders to create the conditions for change, embedding evidence-informed early education teaching and learning in their settings.