The number of graduate early years teachers in England has dropped by 77 per cent over the last nine years, finds new research.
Analysis of the latest Department for Education data by innovation charity Nesta finds that just 9 per cent (or 21,500) of the early years workforce hold accredited graduate status.
According to the data, there were just 534 people starting their Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT), in England in 2022-23. While this a 17 per cent increase in new entrants compared to the previous year, it is a 77 per cent decrease compared to the peak of 2,327 in 2012/14.
The research also highlights how the number of graduates in settings varies across English local authorities.
