Confusion about EYTS vs QTS

I have 4 months left of Early Years Teacher Status, I am an expert on all things EYTS ha. Seriously. I would definitely say go for QTS if you want to work in early years as a graduate. The pay for an early years teacher is anywhere from 7 pound an hour to about 9 if you are lucky. You cannot work in schools as a reception teacher, schools look for qts. EYTS is only in its second year and its so unknown, most jobs still advertise for EYPs which EYT replaced... People dont know what an EYT is they think it is a teacher, you aren't a teacher. Everyone in my class of ten all want qts afterwards. The pay and respect is so poor against a teacher

Ah thanks for all this info!
I'm not asking for me specifically, I'm starting my PGCE in September, I was asking for a friend and I couldn't find any useful information when I googled it!

Do you regret doing an Early Years course or are you glad you did it? Do you think things will change in a few years in terms of job prospects when people get used to the new EYTS? (sorry for the questions but I'm genuinely interested)

I emailed an old tutor about this course when it was still pretty new as I had the same concerns. My ideal job is working with babies and children and so this seemed ideal for me as it focuses on 0 - 5 year olds. I was concerned about the lack of jobs that it was suitable for as nowhere particularly asks for EYTS but rather QTS. I though I'd copy and paste her response and hope that it might help your friend too...

I completely understand your concerns. New statuses and qualifications do take a year or so to become known about and embedded into people's understandings. By this summer, EYTS will be a year old, and more and more settings are learning about it. In early years settings issues to do with recognising it as a status will be easier because of the fact that it used to be called Early Years Practitioner Status, I guess it is in schools where there is more of an issue.
According to the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) EYTS is equivalent to QTS, and covers you for working with 0-5 year olds. This could mean that you could work in a reception class,but it is the forward thinking head teachers who would realise that employing someone with EYTS would be of great benefit. Head teachers have more power in determining teachers' pay in their own schools from this September, and so there is more flexibility here. As EYTS becomes more familiar then understanding of what it involves and the fact that the entry requirements are the same as for QTS, should mean that it doesn't seem inferior to QTS. Bear in mind too, that should you decide to do the course, it will be another year down the line and all of what I have written above will have moved on, especially where it concerns recognising the status. I hope this has been of use to you. It is good that you are researching this and I wish you good luck with whatever you decide.

I have 4 months left of Early Years Teacher Status, I am an expert on all things EYTS ha. Seriously. I would definitely say go for QTS if you want to work in early years as a graduate. The pay for an early years teacher is anywhere from 7 pound an hour to about 9 if you are lucky. You cannot work in schools as a reception teacher, schools look for qts. EYTS is only in its second year and its so unknown, most jobs still advertise for EYPs which EYT replaced... People dont know what an EYT is they think it is a teacher, you aren't a teacher. Everyone in my class of ten all want qts afterwards. The pay and respect is so poor against a teacher

I already have QTS but am applying to do this course from September as I want to switch to EYFS. Any tips for the interview as it sounds more full on than my PGCE one! x

In theory yes...but I am secondary trained so it's a whole different ball game.

Ah ok!! Wow that's a big difference


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Yep..been teaching for 7 years now but just hate the Secondary enviroment. Wish I had gone down this route from the start!

Yep..been teaching for 7 years now but just hate the Secondary enviroment. Wish I had gone down this route from the start!

Hi! Just wondering what made you want to change from secondary to early years.
What was so bad about the secondary school environment?

I originally wanted to teach secondary English but changed my mind the more experience I got in secondary schools, I didn't like it whatsoever.

Funilly enough I teach Secondary English...It's the pressure that I really hate and teenagers who couldn't care less that you've spent hours planning and marking their books! I have a young family and hate spending all evening doing things for work. I am under no illusion that EYFS would be easier...but definatley more rewarding for me

I dont regret doing it as its been a life saver for me really. Only because I originally planned to do a pgce (and still do want to get qts) but for personal reasons I wouldnt have gotten onto a pgce due to my degree, whereas to get onto EYITT you only need a degree whereas for pgce most ask for 2.1 etc. However in an ideal situation I would have preferred to do pgce but one good plus is this course doesnt have any fees compared to 9 grand for pgce. Alot of the students in my class, there are only 10 of us on my route all want to get qts and applied for teaching but didnt get on so went for this as a back up. We didnt really understand what it was because its so misleading as you are called an Early Years Teacher and you have to pass the skills tests before. Its really unfair as when it was EYP you werent called a teacher and didnt have to pass the teacher tests.

Im glad Ive done it as its gained me experience in early years and opened doors for other qualifcations to buld myself up. There are less than 10,000 or something like that in the UK with this qualifcation it is so rare at the moment, no one I speak to knows what it is, which is a blessing and a curse.
I think as it becomes more well known, more jobs will come available, I just search for EYP jobs as EYT jobs are confused with teacher jobs and ask for QTS.

Its been fantastic for me, but so hard and a battle and you feel why bother when they pay is so rubbish and career prospects but, as its a specialist in child development you can branch out further than being in a private day nursery for peanuts. I look for council jobs. If you dont manage to get onto a pgce course i say definitely do this like a gap year as someone on my course is doing this, its the closest thing to being a teacher without being a teacher basically. People on my course are pursuing, teaching, thinking about nursing etc. Im applying for something totally different where a teaching qualification, which this is has helped me get an interview to bump up my rubbish degree.

this course is what you make of it basically. I was proactive and used it as a plan b and i think its going to work really well for me. In a few years this course will be more recognised I think but for now, the future is so uncertain with it. They already changed it this year from last year (made it harder). Id say, if your friend wants to do a teacher training course and doesnt get onto pgce, do this. And go from there.