The Department for Education’s post-Covid early education recovery programme has provided more than 41,474 training opportunities to practitioners, according to the government’s own data.

The free workforce training, support and guidance aims to address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the youngest and most disadvantaged children. The recovery package includes the Early Years Professional Development Programme and the Experts and Mentors programme.  Some practitioners may have registered for more than one programme.

The government revealed that 8,329 practitioners have registered to complete Phase 3 of the Early Years Professional Development Programme, which aims to upskill Level 3 staff in communication and language, early mathematics and personal, social and emotional development (PSED). Meanwhile 37,084 practitioners have registered for Early Years Child Development Training which has six modules covering issues including understanding child development, mathematics and supporting individual differences and needs.

Some 5,253 settings have registered a practitioner to complete the new Level 3 Early Years Special Educational Needs Coordinator qualification, delivered by Best Practice Network. Meanwhile 7,266 settings are part of a Stronger Practice Hub network, funded to provide local tailored support.

David Johnston, minister for children, families and wellbeing, said: “It’s brilliant to see the reach of our early years education recovery programme so far, with tens of thousands of early years professionals already signed up to its training opportunities across early language, maths and social development.”