Guide to Effective Professional Development in the Early Years

19 April 2023

Support for those choosing, developing or planning high quality professional development opportunities for early years practitioners.

Education Endowment Foundation

Guide to Effective Professional Development in the Early Years

Early years providers play an important role in supporting all children’s learning and development, but attending a setting with high quality provision can be particularly beneficial for children experiencing poverty.

This guide explores four areas we recommend professional development includes and considers some of the key features or mechanisms of each area which could make the professional development more effective. The content is by no means exhaustive.

This first edition has been put together to support the DfE’s Covid-19 recovery initiative ‘Stronger Practice Hubs’ and aims to be a starting point with further exemplification added in future editions. Links to further evidence-based resources and tools that complement this guide can be found at the end of the report.

Access the guide and supporting tool below.

Support for those choosing, developing or planning high quality professional development opportunities for early years practitioners.

Guide to Effective Professional Development in the Early Years

Practical tool providing a structure for an ongoing cycle of professional conversations, including prompts and an action plan template.

Professional Development Conversation Cycle

Early Years

Discover our evidence and resources for early years practitioners.