Mapping professional development and support programmes in the early years sector - Practice review - May 2025

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle

Mapping professional development and support programmes in the early years sector: Practice review (May 2025) reports an Education Endowment Foundation-commissioned study by CooperGibson Research. The work identifies availability and thematic focus of early years professional development and support programmes used in England, aiming to inform EEF decisions on funding evaluations and highlight gaps. A mixed-methods approach combines desk-based mapping and stakeholder-led interviews with a large online survey to produce evidence-based insights.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages81

Reading Time3 h 24 min

AccessFree to download

About the researchers

Acknowledgements

Executive summary

Introduction

Methodology

Findings: Mapping search results

Findings: Sector awareness of professional development and support programmes

Findings: Sector engagement with professional development and support programmes

Findings: Perceptions of early years programmes

Findings: Future requirements for early years professional development

Discussion and implications

Appendix 1: Project methodology

Appendix 2: Survey data tables

Mapping professional development and support programmes in the early years sector Practice review May 2025 CooperGibson Research The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) is an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family income and education achievement. We support schools, nurseries , and colleges to improve teaching and learning for 2–19-year-olds through better use of evidence. We do this by: • Summarising evidence. Reviewing the best available evidence on teaching and learning and presenting in an accessible way. • Finding new evidence. Funding independent evaluations of programmes and approaches that aim to raise the attainment of children and young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. • Putting evidence to use. Supporting education practitioners, as well as policymakers and other organisations, to use evidence in ways that improve teaching and learning. We were set-up in 2011 by the Sutton Trust partnership with Impetus with a founding £125m grant from the Department for Education. In 2022, we were re-endowed with an additional £137m, allowing us to continue our work until at least 2032. For more information about the EEF or this report please contact: Education Endowment Foundation 5th Floor, Millbank Tower 21–24 Millbank SW1P 4QP [info@eefoundation.org.uk](info@eefoundation.org.uk) [www.educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk](www.educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk) Contents About the researchers ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Acknowledgements........................................................................................................................................................... 4 Executive summary .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Methodology ................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Findings: Mapping search results ................................................................................................................................... 13 Findings: Sector awareness of professional development and support programmes.................................................... 18 Findings: Sector engagement with professional development and support programmes ............................................. 23 Findings: Perceptions of early years programmes ......................................................................................................... 35 Findings: Future requirements for early years professional development ..................................................................... 40 Discussion and implications............................................................................................................................................ 43 Appendix 1: Project methodology ................................................................................................................................... 45 Appendix 2: Survey data tables ...................................................................................................................................... 52 About the researchers CooperGibson Research (CGR) has a long-established track record in research and evaluation specialising in education, skills, training, employment, social care , and public service improvement. This research was conducted by the following team members: Sarah Gibson, Sarah Eastlake , Rebecca Atkinson , and Ruth Watts. With expertise in using bot

FAQs

What was the purpose of the mapping exercise?

The Education Endowment Foundation commissioned the mapping to identify the availability and thematic focus of professional development and support programmes used by early years settings in England. It also sought to inform decisions about funding programme evaluations and identify gaps that could be addressed in future funding rounds.

How was the study conducted?

The study used a mixed-methods approach, including a desk-based mapping exercise (October 2024 to November 2024) using online searches and stakeholder interviews, and an online survey (November 2024 to December 2024) with early years participants.

Which organizations and researchers carried out the work?

CooperGibson Research (CGR) conducted the research on behalf of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF). The report lists team members Sarah Gibson, Sarah Eastlake, Rebecca Atkinson, and Ruth Watts, with EEF support from Aoife Duff and Rachael Emmett.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle