The London Institute of Early Years is now offering high-quality continued professional development (CPD) and training opportunities to professionals throughout the early years sector.

Focused on ensuring the best outcomes for children, the Institute’s courses are led by seasoned in-house trainers with practical nursery experience. The flexible format accommodates busy nursery schedules, helping learners effectively balance work with their professional development.

Located within the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), which operates 40 award-winning nurseries across the city, the Institute is open to both external learners and LEYF employees, with no membership necessary. Its mission is to promote best practices, encourage innovation, and share cutting-edge research, contributing to significant advancements in the early years sector.

The Institute offers training across all levels, from Apprenticeships to CPD and an early years honours degree accredited by the University of Wolverhampton. The Institute also provides specialist qualifications, including the CACHE-accredited early years chef qualification – the first of its kind globally – and the sector-leading Level 4 sustainability in the early years Award.

The range of innovative CPD courses aligns with LEYF’s commitment to social justice in early years education and care. While some flagship courses are currently offered externally, the London Institute of Early Years aims to expand access to more external learners in the coming months, starting with the popular “Baby You’re Fantastic” training suite.

As a sector leader, the Institute also provides consultancy, research, bespoke training, and good practice guides, beginning with a ‘Prison Pack’. This is designed to support early years professionals caring for children of parents in prison, and soon to be followed by the Twoness of Twos research as a way of engaging parents to better understand and support their two-year-olds at home. 

June O’Sullivan OBE, chief executive of LEYF, said:

“The link between highly trained staff and the quality of children’s experiences and outcomes is well-researched. At LEYF, we place children at the heart of everything we do, backed by both international and our own action research. 

“Over the past 20 years, we’ve developed a robust training portfolio for our staff, and we’re now opening this to the wider sector. With the launch of the London Institute of Early Years, we have brought all our training under one roof, and we’re excited to support the sector in deepening its knowledge of child development and helping professionals enhance their careers with life-changing qualifications.”

For further details about London Institute of Early Years and its course offerings, visit https://www.leyf.org.uk/training/