EDT to deliver new Skills Bootcamps in Early Years in London to support city’s skills drive

As part of this launch, EDT’s UK skills division will be delivering Skills Bootcamps in Early Years in London, which seek to address the significant shortfall in early years workers in the city. The bootcamps offer a blend of face-to-face and remote learning from sector-experienced tutors, plus in-person work experience. Over 16 weeks, learners will get the skills, accreditations, experience and support they need to start their career in early years. In addition, they will be offered an interview with a local provider at the end of the course. 

“We are thrilled that we have been able to secure this opportunity to deliver training in London to the early years sector. There is a vast number of early years settings that are struggling to recruit in London, so to be able to support them and, in turn, provide more London residents with the opportunity to gain access to childcare, will not only support the sector but help boost London’s overall economy.” 

Chris George, Skills Manager at EDT 

According to Lightcast data reports, there were over 10,000 online job vacancies in London last year in the early years sector. The Skills Bootcamps in Early Years have been designed with the help of employers to ensure that prospective employees have the skills, knowledge and experience to succeed in an early years setting. In addition to sourcing the views of dozens of employers and stakeholders, EDT established a curriculum design team which provided more in-depth curriculum input from a cohort of early years employers, including Over the Rainbow, Buttercups and Complete Childcare nurseries.  

“We’re incredibly pleased to be able to extend our skills delivery to London. This is an exciting opportunity for us to deliver our high-quality training to London residents in a sector of the upmost importance. Our Skills Bootcamps are designed with and for employers in the early years sector and our learners receive outstanding support via our expert staff delivery teams. 

“Skills Bootcamps are a brilliant way to increase staff capacity in key sectors of need and attract new individuals who receive excellent training and preparation for the workplace. This results in our learners gaining an opportunity to forge a career in a new and vibrant sector, and for the early years sector, this is a real opportunity to bring talented individuals into teams. 

“We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with our partners in the Greater London Authority area to provide opportunities to Londoners.” 

Kiri Baxter, Deputy Director for Skills at EDT 

The new course for London marks a development in EDT’s delivery of the Skills Bootcamps across England. In a recent quality assurance inspection from England’s Department of Education (DfE), inspectors noted that “tutors are industry experts who are passionate about the sector” and that the tutors “deliver engaging sessions.” The inspection also praised the engagement of the learners who “demonstrate positive and respectful behaviours.”  

Feedback on the England-wide Skills Bootcamps has been overwhelmingly positive, with learners’ comments including: “I would describe (and frequently do) undertaking the bootcamp with EDT as one of the best choices I have ever made.” 

The first learners are already enrolled on the new course in London, which offers some face-to-face sessions in the Masbro Centre, West London as part of its delivery.  

Find out more about the Skills Bootcamps in Early Years London, including how to register.