Qualifications For Early Years Teachers

In this blog, you will learn: 

• The academic qualifications required to become an Early Years Teacher
• What teacher training programmes are available 
• Why you should gain experience 
• The skills and personal attributes required to become an Early Years Teacher
• Where to find the latest Early Years Teacher jobs

What is an Early Years Teacher?

Early Years Teachers work with children up to the age of 5 years old. Their speciality is the early development of children, and they will generally work in nurseries, pre-schools, and early years foundation stage (EYFS) classes in primary schools.

If you were wondering what qualifications do you need to be an Early Years Teacher, we answer that question, including the experience, skills and attributes needed for the role, in our latest blog. 

To become an Early Years Teacher, you will need to

• Achieve academic qualifications or
• Pass a teacher training programme
• Gain experience
• Possess the right skills and personal attributes

Academic qualifications

In order to become an Early Years Teacher, you will need to complete Early Years Initial Teacher Training, after which you will gain Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS). 

You will need to meet the same Teacher’s Standards that an Early Career Teacher gains as part of their ECT (Early Career Teacher) induction. The Teacher’s Standards relate to your abilities in teaching (such as lesson planning, pupil progress and classroom standards) and your conduct (your personal and professional behaviour, ethics and tolerance). 

There are two paths to gain the necessary academic qualifications for the job: 

• Undergraduate degree, where you will study full time and gain a degree in an early childhood related subject leading to EYTS. 
• Postgraduate training. You can either continue full time education to gain EYTS or this can be done on a part time basis while already working in an early years learning environment.

In order to study for a degree, you will of course need to meet the necessary grade requirements for GCSE and A-Level to gain a place on your course. 

Teacher training programmes

If you are a graduate who is already working as an Early Years Practitioner, or if you're a graduate looking to transition into early years teaching, then you will need to complete an Early Year Initial Teacher Training (EYITT) programme to gain Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS).

EYITT courses are 12-month, part time courses that are fully funded by the Department for Education. There is usually a financial incentive of up to £7000 for your employer while you train. Trainees will work on placement in the early years sector to build confidence and experience in the role. 

Experience

In order to prepare your CV for a teaching job, it’s a good idea to get some experience under your belt to demonstrate your commitment to the role as well as showcase your knowledge of early childhood education. 

Paid work experience can be gained by starting your career as a Nursery Worker or Teaching Assistant. You can study for a degree part-time whilst working in these roles. 

If you are a graduate, you can undertale an EYITT programme to gain EYTS. You can also obtain voluntary experience which will look particularly impressive on your CV to any potential employers. Volunteering at schools and youth work are good examples of areas in which you can gain valuable skills and experience. 

Skills and personal attributes

Teaching in any institution can be a physically and emotionally demanding job. Alongside the experience and qualifications you need to be an Early Years Teacher, it’s important to consider your personal attributes to see if it’s something you can commit yourself to. Ask yourself: 

• Am I a good communicator? It’s important that you can communicate with sensitivity and understand the different range of people’s reactions.
• Am I open to change and new ways of doing things? EYTs need to be flexible and adaptable in an environment that changes constantly. 
• Can I work well with others? You’ll need to collaborate well with lots of different people (colleagues, parents and children) in the role. 
• Am I patient? Patience and the ability to remain calm and in control during stressful situations is an absolute must. 

A career in Early Years Teaching may seem attractive, but without the right personal attributes it may not deliver the career you want. Making sure you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead will give you the best opportunity for success. 

Searching for an Early Years Teachers job?

If you’re searching for an Early Years Teachers job, why not visit our job page to take a look at the latest opportunities? Alternatively, upload your CV and one of our education consultants will contact you when a relevant opportunity becomes available. 

If you’re struggling to fill a role, why don’t you give our Managing Consultant, Jamie Heath, a call on 01772 954200 to see how we can help? We’ll be happy to listen to the challenges which you are facing and advise on the best possible solution for you.

Meet Jamie Heath

Who is Spencer Clarke Group? 

Since 2017, we've been changing the face of recruitment. From our employees, to the way we do business, to the culture within our office, we're determined to make a difference and create a positive impact on everyone around us.

Recruitment to us isn't just about matching candidates and clients; we’re passionate about finding candidates the perfect job which has the ability to boost their salary and standard of living, better their work life balance and improve their mental health. 

Similarly, we understand the impact which an experienced and skilled employee can make to a business and we love seeing clients thrive through the hard work of candidates which we have placed with them. 

We operate in two sectors:

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If you’re searching for a new role, why not visit our job page to take a look at the latest opportunities? Alternatively, upload your CV and one of our experienced consultants will contact you when a relevant opportunity becomes available. 

If you’re struggling to fill a role, why don’t you give us a call on 01772 954200 to see how we can help? One of our consultants will be happy to listen to the challenges which you are facing and advise on the best possible solution for you.