The review aims to further understanding of the early years professional development landscape and to support EEF’s decisions around funding programme evaluations by identifying gaps and areas of need that could potentially be addressed in future funding rounds.

A mixed methods approach was undertaken, including:

• A desk-based mapping exercise, identifying programmes through online searches and stakeholder interviews, to provide a detailed profile of programme characteristics and any gaps in provision.
• An online survey with 476 early years leaders from school-based, private voluntary and independent (PVI) and childminder settings.
• Qualitative interviews with early years setting leaders and stakeholders from organisations working with the early years sector.