While in 2013/14 there were 2,327 entrants to early years initial teacher training, by 2022/23 this number had fallen to 534.
Currently less than one in ten of the early years’ workforce are graduates.
Low salaries for qualified early years teachers is a likely factor in the decrease, according to the research carried out by charity Nesta.
“Salaries for qualified teachers are on average thousands of pounds lower than salaries for qualified primary school teachers,” Nesta warned.
The average salary for early years teachers is £25,714 to £36,961, while primary school teachers can earn between £28,000 and £43,385 a year.
Early years graduates not being awarded qualified teacher status is another factor in the decline, Nesta said.
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