What is an Early Years Pupil Premium Champion?
Champions are experienced early years professionals who will lead efforts in a local authority area to promote effective use of Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) funding.
They will do this through:
- Local engagement and relationship building
- Communication and mobilisation
- Hands-on, tailored support for settings
Why should I apply?
- Make a difference. Improving the use of EYPP is an effective way to improve outcomes for children from lower-income backgrounds. This role gives you the opportunity to shape future national guidance.
- Develop as a leader. You’ll receive guidance and support from the EEF and you’ll gain experience in system leadership, learning more about building coalitions to change practice.
- Grow your network. You’ll join a network of Champions – sharing learning, challenges and solutions with peers across the country. And you’ll work directly with sector leaders across your area.
What are you looking for?
We are aiming to appoint one or two Champions for each of the involved local authority areas: Brent, Central Bedfordshire, East Sussex, Redcar and Cleveland, and Wolverhampton.
We cannot accept applications from outside these local authority areas.
Our selection criteria include:
- Experience in the early years sector in England. For example, as an Early Years lead, nursery manager, Stronger Practice Hubs practitioner, or local authority advisor.
- Strong connections within the early years sector and experience of building and maintaining effective partnerships or networks, particularly within your local authority area.
- Experience developing and/or delivering professional development and supporting staff across a setting or organisation.
Full selection criteria are available in the application guidance document.
How does this work alongside my current job?
The Champions programme runs from January 2027-July 2028, with induction days in Autumn 2026.
The role comes with a £44,500 grant for your current setting or employer to help back-fill your role and support your work as a Champion.
We recommend applying with the support and involvement of your current organisation, so you can present a credible plan for covering your existing responsibilities.
How do I apply?
Download the full application guidance and then fill in the application form before the deadline of 16 July at 23:59.
Any more questions?
If you can’t find the answer in the full application guidance, we are running a webinar on Thursday 2 July from 4:00 – 5:00pm. You can register using this link: Early Years Pupil Premium Champion – Information Webinar Registration – Zoom
You can also send questions to us by email at eyppchampions@eefoundation.org.uk.