Nursery World - DfE announces extension to early years training programme to support children's language skills

Up to 2,000 childcare practitioners are set to benefit from the second phase of the Government’s Early Years Professional Development programme (PDP) to boost children's early language and numeracy skills.

Under phase two of the programme, early years practitioners in 50 local authorities will receive training to teach early language and numeracy skills, PHOTO Adobe Stock

The Department for Education (DfE) has today announced more details of the £10m extension to the scheme, announced in February.

Funding will go to a further 50 local authorities, reaching up to 32,000 two- to four-year-olds across the country.

The local authorities that will benefit will be announced later in the autumn.

Under the Early Years PDP, part of the Government’s efforts to narrow the early years attainment gap, staff in nurseries and pre-schools, and childminders, receive training and professional development support to teach early language and numeracy skills to the children in their care.

This second phase of the programme, being rolled out from January 2022, will last for one year and be delivered by Education Development Trust in partnership with Elklan.

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