Quality Provision in Early Years: Building Skills, Compliance and Better Outcomes

High-quality early years provision is about more than just ticking boxes. It is about creating an environment where children can flourish, where staff feel confident and supported and where parents can trust their children are in safe, engaging hands.  

But delivering this consistently is not easy. Nurseries face staffing shortages, gaps in qualifications and rising demand, all while needing to comply with regulatory requirements. 

The good news is that with thoughtful workforce development, particularly through apprenticeships, settings can turn these challenges into opportunities. Apprenticeships provide structured pathways for new recruits and existing staff alike, strengthening skills, boosting retention and ultimately improving the quality of care and education provided. 

 

Meeting and Exceeding Compliance Standards 

Compliance with regulatory frameworks is the foundation of quality in early years settings. Recent data indicates that while many settings strive to meet these standards, challenges persist. For instance, according to the Early Years Workforce in England 2025 report by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), a significant portion of the workforce remains underqualified. In 2024, approximately 20–25% of staff in group-based provision and 25–30% of childminders held qualifications below Level 3, the benchmark for early years education (nfer.ac.uk). 

This qualification gap poses risks to compliance as settings may struggle to meet the required staff-to-child ratios and qualifications stipulated by regulatory bodies. Addressing this gap through targeted recruitment and training is essential to uphold and exceed compliance standards. 

 

Enhancing Quality Through Professional Development 

Investing in professional development is key to improving the quality of early years provision. Structured training pathways, such as apprenticeships and progression routes from Level 2 to Level 5 qualifications, equip staff with the skills and knowledge necessary to deliver high-quality care and education. 

The NFER report highlights that early years workers with lower qualification levels often report limited opportunities for career progression (nfer.ac.uk). By providing clear career pathways and supporting continuous professional development, settings can enhance staff retention and ensure a consistently high standard of care. 

 

Addressing Recruitment and Retention Challenges 

Recruitment and retention remain significant challenges in the early years sector. The Turning Point? report by the Early Years Alliance reveals that 78% of settings find it difficult to recruit suitable staff and 50% have had to limit or stop taking on new children due to staffing shortages (eyalliance.org.uk). 

 These challenges impact the quality of provision, as staffing shortages can lead to increased workloads, stress and burnout among existing staff, ultimately affecting the care and education provided to children. 

Many settings are increasingly relying on temporary or agency staff to fill gaps, which adds extra strain on already tight budgets. Recent government data shows that around 29 per cent of group-based providers employed temporary paid childcare staff in 2024, a figure that has remained stubbornly high year on year (DfE, 2024). Reports from the Early Years Alliance also highlight that these agency placements often cost significantly more than permanent staff and can impact consistency of care (EY Alliance, 2024). 

Implementing strategies to attract and retain qualified, long-term staff (such as offering professional development opportunities and supportive work environments) is therefore essential to maintaining both financial stability and high-quality provision. 

 

Apprenticeships: Building a Skilled, Motivated Workforce 

Apprenticeships offer a practical and cost-effective way to address these challenges. They allow settings to recruit early-career staff who are enthusiastic, motivated and eager to learn. From day one, apprentices gain hands-on experience in delivering care, supporting development and understanding the day-to-day responsibilities of a nursery. They learn essential skills in child development, safeguarding, communication and teamwork, all while gaining nationally recognised qualifications. 

Apprenticeships are so important. I would say they're invaluable. It's teaching people the way of early years, but in a way where they are experiencing it from the first day.

- Vicki Foy, Dunky’s Day Nursery 

 

For existing staff, apprenticeships provide a clear route for upskilling and career progression. Team members can progress from Level 3 to Level 5, developing leadership skills and subject knowledge, while deepening their expertise in early years practice. This not only improves their confidence and effectiveness in the classroom but also helps nurseries retain experienced staff, creating a more stable and capable team. 

The benefits are twofold: children experience more consistent, high-quality interactions, while nurseries benefit from staff who are qualified, confident and motivated to stay long-term. 

 

Supporting Compliance and Operational Excellence 

Beyond improving care, apprenticeships support operational quality. By ensuring more staff hold Level 3 or higher qualifications, settings are better positioned to meet statutory staff-to-child ratios, comply with safeguarding requirements and achieve positive outcomes in Ofsted inspections. 

Apprenticeships also embed best practice into everyday routines. Staff trained through structured programmes are more likely to follow the latest Early Years Foundation Stage guidance, implement effective curriculum planning and use evidence-based teaching strategies. The result is not just compliance, but a culture of continuous improvement, where high-quality practice becomes the norm rather than the exception. 

“They are obviously watching what the other staff members are doing from the day they start. We make sure they have a full induction and they have the same training as everybody else, so they really are learning through their job role.” - Vicki Foy, Dunky’s Day Nursery 

 

Financially Sustainable Solutions 

Rising costs and underfunding add another layer of pressure. Funding for early years settings has increased by around 21%, while the Living Wage has risen by 58–62% (NDNA), making it increasingly challenging to recruit experienced staff. 

Apprenticeships help settings manage these pressures. Government funding covers much of the training cost, and Total People can support settings to access funding efficiently, whether through the Apprenticeship Levy or co-investment models. By investing in apprentices, nurseries can expand teams sustainably, strengthen skills and plan for future demand, all without over-stretching already tight budgets. 

It takes the pressure off our qualified staff… once they've done training and they're competent in it, then they're good to go themselves.

- Vicki Foy, Dunky’s Day Nursery 

 

How Apprenticeships Benefit the Whole Setting 

The impact of apprenticeships goes beyond individual staff members. With a well-structured programme, nurseries can: 

• Build a pipeline of motivated, qualified staff, reducing recruitment pressures 
• Improve staff retention, giving children consistent care from familiar, trusted practitioners 
• Enhance team morale, as staff feel valued, supported and invested in 
• Strengthen operational resilience, with staff equipped to handle inspections, implement curriculum changes and deliver high-quality care 
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement, which can positively influence parents’ perception and confidence in the setting. 

 

Partnering with Total People 

Total People helps early years providers harness the full potential of apprenticeships. Through our Recruit Connect service, we provide tailored support from start to finish: analysing skills gaps, recommending funding and training options, helping with recruitment and guiding settings through onboarding and ongoing development. We connect nurseries with career-ready apprentices, support assessments and interviews, and ensure flexible programmes that fit your setting’s needs are implemented. 

I just feel like Total People really do have brilliant communication. They keep in touch with us…we’ve worked with them now for many years, and I know other settings have got really good experiences with Total People as well.

- Vicki Foy, Dunky’s Day Nursery 

 

By embedding apprenticeships into workforce planning, nurseries can create a skilled, motivated and qualified team, improving both compliance and the everyday experience for children. 

I would say it’s the most amazing career you could ever, ever choose. Just being able to watch the children grow from tiny babies to these children that are very confident going to school…it’s all about how, as a setting, you can shape those children.

- Vicki Foy, Dunky’s Day Nursery 

 

Find out more about Early Years apprenticeships with Total People.