Summer 2025 Journal – The early years workforce

Garcia, Jayne (2025) Summer 2025 Journal – The early years workforce. Early Education Journal.

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Abstract

The early years workforce in the UK is significant in size and impact, there are over 430,000 people employed in the early years workforce across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (Daynurseries.co.uk, 2025). This workforce and the individuals within, represent a diverse cross-section of society, coming from differing backgrounds, representing a range of qualification levels and working within a wide range of setting types, from independent childminders to school-based provisions and forest school-style settings. They work together to deliver a staggering 1.6 million early years education and care places in England alone (Gov.uk, 2024). The unifying factor is the commitment and dedication to this important role that sees so many drawn to work with our youngest children despite the sector's challenges in recent years. One such issue is the landscape of early years qualifications which has been changing since the introduction of the EYFS in 2008. Successive governments have sought to elevate the status of the early years workforce, but despite varying initiatives, such plans have failed to raise the overall status. Although approaches such as the Early Years Professional Status and Early Years Teacher Status at level 6 have sought to provide suitable progression routes for those eager to develop their roles, the terms, conditions and remuneration have not followed. The introduction of the apprenticeship routes from level 1 to 6 have provided further avenues for those within the workforce to follow work-based routes to enhance skills and knowledge through developing on-the-job training to grow their careers.

Item Type:	Article
Depositing User:	JISCRouter
Date Deposited:	15 Jan 2026 16:03
Last Modified:	15 Jan 2026 16:03
URI:	https://marjon.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/18072

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