Early years continuing professional development and support
Updated 8 July 2025
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2025
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-continuing-professional-development-and-support/early-years-continuing-professional-development-and-support
The Department for Education (DfE) funds a range of training and support for early years educators and leaders. It’s available online or in person, depending on the programme. Online training offers flexibility, allowing educators to access it at convenient times. Stronger practice hubs provide additional support and networking opportunities both online and face to face.
Level 3 special educational needs coordinator (SENCO)
Early identification of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is crucial in ensuring children receive the support they need throughout their education. This training is aligned with the early years foundation stage (EYFS) framework. It provides current and aspiring early years SENCOs with the skills and knowledge required for the role and leads to an accredited level 3 qualification.
Which settings are eligible
This nationally available training is designed for SENCOs working in group-based or childminder settings, as well as those preparing to take on the role.
It’s open to:
- level 3 educators in private, voluntary or independent (PVI) settings
- Ofsted-registered childminders
- childminders registered with a childminding agency
Applicants must hold a full and relevant level 3 qualification or, in the case of childminders, a relevant level 2 qualification with at least one level 3 module completed and significant early years experience.
What it involves
The course comprises online taught sessions and study units. The 3-hour sessions feature live, tutor-led training and include activities such as pre-reading, group discussions and breakout-room work. Participants can choose from weekday morning, afternoon or evening sessions, with a limited number of Saturday sessions for childminders.
How long it takes
The training takes 6 months to complete.
How to apply
Register your interest in joining a future cohort through our delivery partner Best Practice Network.
Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI)
The NELI programme is for reception-age pupils who need more support with their speech and language development and early literacy skills.
Research by the Education Endowment Foundation has shown that children who attend a setting that implements the programme make up to 4 months’ additional progress. This increases to a potential 7 months for disadvantaged children.
Which settings are eligible
All maintained schools with a reception class are invited to apply for places on the programme.
What it involves
Having undertaken the NELI online training, educators provide short, small-group and individual sessions to 3 to 6 children for 20 weeks, benefiting from mentor support and access to the Learning Hub throughout.
How long it takes
The intervention programme takes 20 weeks.
How to apply
Sign up on the NELI website.
Maths Champions
Maths Champions is an online professional development programme that builds the knowledge of early years educators to support children’s early mathematical development.
Research by the Education Endowment Foundation has shown that children who attend a setting that implements the programme make up to 3 months’ additional progress in not only their maths but also their language development. This increases to a potential 6 months for disadvantaged children.
Which settings are eligible
The programme is open to PVI, maintained and school-based nursery settings in England.
What it involves
A setting appoints a Maths Champion and a Deputy Maths Champion. They receive training and one-to-one support from an early years adviser throughout the programme. Their training covers key mathematical concepts and strategies to boost staff confidence.
The Maths Champion and Deputy Maths Champion are then supported to audit current practice and create and implement an action plan to improve maths practice across the setting.
How long it takes
The programme takes 12 months and consists of 9 steps that can be completed flexibly around your setting’s schedule.
How to apply
Sign up on the Education Endowment Foundation website.
Early years child development training (online)
Early years child development training is a free online professional development programme designed by early years experts. It helps educators build and strengthen their knowledge and understanding of child development so they can best support children in early years settings and reception classes and help them to thrive.
Which settings are eligible
The training is suitable for you if you’re:
- an early years educator (includes childminders) working in any type of early years setting
- looking to retrain and become an early years educator
- an educator in the early stages of your career
- a more experienced educator looking to refresh your knowledge
- a teacher or teaching assistant working in a reception class
- an early years setting leader or aspiring leader
However, it’s universally accessible to anyone who might find it useful, including parents and carers.
What it involves
Educators work through a number of interactive modules covering key areas of child development.
The self-study training:
- includes written content, videos, a learning log and practical ideas to use in your setting
- allows educators to test their knowledge through learning checks and reflect on their own practice throughout the training
- is designed to be flexible so that educators can work at their own pace, saving their progress and returning to the point at which they paused at any time
- can be accessed and completed in any order
- allows educators to download a certificate on completing each module
There are 8 modules:
- Module 1: Understanding child development and the early years foundation stage
- Module 2: Brain development and how children learn
- Module 3: Supporting children’s personal, social and emotional development
- Module 4: Supporting language development in the early years
- Module 5: Supporting physical development in the early years
- Module 6: Mathematics
- Module 7: Effective curriculum and assessment
- Module 8: Supporting individual differences and needs
How long it takes
Each module takes around 90 minutes to 2 hours to complete.
Stronger practice hubs
Stronger practice hubs are networks of early years settings that share expertise and experience, and help settings adopt evidence-based improvements.
They focus on improving outcomes for children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. There are 18 early years hubs across England – 2 in each region.
Who can benefit from support
Hubs support settings that:
- do not have access to a network or relationships with other early years providers
- want to improve the quality of their provision
- could benefit from high-quality professional development
What it involves
Hubs support settings by:
- establishing local networks to share knowledge and effective practice
- proactively providing information on evidence-based approaches
- acting as a point of contact for bespoke advice
- signposting to other funded support
Early years safeguarding training package
To support the early years sector with the safeguarding changes set to be introduced to the EYFS statutory framework in September 2025, DfE is developing an online early years safeguarding training package that’s due to launch in spring 2026.
Which settings will be eligible
The training package will be a free and universal offer open to all early years settings, educators and reception-based staff.
What it will involve
The training will cover sections 1 and 2 of the criteria set out in the new safeguarding training annex in the framework, which are mandatory for all early years educators.
Designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) are expected to undertake training that covers section 1, 2 and 3 of the criteria. Section 3 states that: “Training for the DSL should take account of any advice from the local safeguarding partners or local authority on appropriate training courses.”
For more details on the EYFS changes set to be introduced, refer to the government’s response to the EYFS safeguarding consultation
It will not be mandatory for providers to fulfil the safeguarding training requirements using DfE’s online safeguarding training. As long as all the criteria in the new annex are covered, providers will still be able to choose the training that best suits their needs.
More sources of online support
Help for early years providers: resources, activities and support for childminders and educators working with children aged 0 to 5 years.
Foundation Years: news, policy and resources for early years professionals.
Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework: the standards that schools and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to age 5.
Development Matters: non-statutory curriculum guidance for the early years foundation stage.
Progress check at age 2: guidance for early years educators completing the EYFS progress check.
Reception improvement offer – further details on the online and in-person school support and professional development available for improving teaching and leadership of reception.