Education and Early Years Sector Skills Collective
Working together to strengthen the education and early years workforce
The education and early years sector plays a vital role in supporting children's development, learning, and wellbeing. Yet the workforce continues to face significant challenges, from recruitment and retention pressures to increasing complexity of need and changing expectations of practice.
To help explore these challenges, NCFE has established the Education and Early Years Skills Collective, bringing together sector leaders, educators, practitioners, workforce development experts, and organisations working across children's services.
The Collective provides a space for meaningful discussion, shared expertise, and practical action. Together, participants explore how education, qualifications, and professional development can support a skilled, confident, and sustainable workforce for the future.
The insights generated through these discussions aim to inform sector thinking. They also highlight opportunities to strengthen workforce development, professional recognition, and career progression across education and early years.
Explore our latest sector insights
Read the Collective paper
Investing in the early years workforce is an investment in children, families, communities, and the future prosperity of our society.
Our focus: education and early years workforce priorities
The Collective examines the issues that matter most to the future of education and early years, including:
- workforce sustainability and retention
- career pathways and progression
- professional recognition
- skills development and lifelong learning
- leadership and workplace culture
- future workforce needs and emerging roles
- the role of education and training in supporting sector change
- integrated approaches across health and social care.
As the sector continues to evolve, the Collective provides a platform for discussion and practical recommendations that support long-term workforce development and positive outcomes for children and families.
Explore education and early years workforce insights
From childcare to lifelong development: Building a stronger education and early years workforce
Our inaugural Skills Collective paper explores how the sector can support a workforce that is skilled, valued, and equipped to meet future challenges.
Drawing on discussions with practitioners, leaders and workforce development specialists, the paper explores themes including continuous professional development, leadership, safeguarding, professional recognition and cross-sector collaboration.
Building a workforce that helps every child to thrive
A strong early years workforce doesn't happen by chance. Discover the practical actions sector leaders believe can strengthen professional development, improve retention, raise the profile of the profession, and create better outcomes for children and families in our latest article.
Why mentoring and supervision matters in building a stronger early years workforce
Discover the thoughts of our Sector Manager for Education and Childcare, Janet King, who outlines how mentoring and supervision can support practitioner confidence, professional development, and long-term workforce retention across the early years sector.
The future of early years provision depends on a workforce that is skilled, valued, resilient, and sustainable.
Why NCFE supports education and early years workforce development
We already support workforce development through market-leading education and early years qualifications, continuous professional development, and sector partnerships.
From supporting practitioners at every stage of their career journey to developing qualifications and learning opportunities that reflect the changing needs of the sector, we work closely with employers, providers, and sector stakeholders to help ensure education and training remain relevant and impactful.
The Education and Early Years Skills Collective builds on this work. It creates a space for sector voices to share expertise and explore how technical and vocational education can support workforce sustainability, progression, and continuous professional learning.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The Education and Early Years Skills Collective brings together sector leaders, educators, practitioners, and workforce development experts to discuss key workforce challenges and opportunities. Through collaboration and shared expertise, the Collective helps inform sector thinking and practical recommendations that support the future of the education and early years workforce.
The education and early years workforce faces a range of interconnected challenges, including recruitment and retention pressures, increasing complexity of children's needs, workforce sustainability, and access to professional development. Sector leaders have also highlighted the importance of strengthening career pathways, professional recognition, and leadership development. For a deeper exploration of these challenges and potential solutions, read our Skills Collective paper.
Alongside specialist knowledge and technical expertise, the future workforce will require skills such as communication, collaboration, safeguarding awareness, leadership, adaptability, and reflective practice. As the sector continues to evolve, lifelong learning and ongoing professional development will become increasingly important. Read the paper to learn more about the future capabilities identified by the Skills Collective.
Improving retention requires a long-term approach that goes beyond recruitment alone. The Skills Collective highlighted the importance of career progression, professional development, effective leadership, mentoring, workplace culture, and opportunities for continuous learning. Employers also have a key role to play in helping practitioners build fulfilling and sustainable careers. Discover the paper's full insights and recommendations.
Continuous professional development (CPD) helps practitioners build confidence, deepen specialist knowledge, and respond to the changing needs of children and families. The Skills Collective highlighted the importance of viewing qualifications as a foundation for ongoing learning, supported by accessible CPD opportunities throughout a practitioner's career. Explore our education and early years professional development opportunities to learn more.
Qualifications provide valuable routes into education and early years careers while supporting progression, lifelong learning and professional development. When aligned with clear career pathways and workplace learning opportunities, qualifications can help practitioners develop the knowledge and skills needed throughout their careers. Explore our education and early years qualifications to learn more about the opportunities available.