Become a member
Working in the early years sector can be one of the most rewarding jobs there is.
As an education professional, you get to shape the next generation and build the foundations of children’s future learning.
But it also comes with a lot of pressure: from keeping up with constantly-changing rules and legislation, to finding time for CPD, to putting in place robust policies and procedures. The list can sometimes feel endless.
Navigating this on your own can sometimes feel overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to.
Alliance membership can provide real, tangible support, leaving you to focus on delivering quality care and education, secure in the knowledge that you are supported by an organisation that understands you and what you do.
Ready to become a member?
Call or email us to discuss membership
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
Why join the Alliance?
As a member of the Alliance, you have instant access to benefits like:
Regular early years policy updates and summaries
As an Alliance member, you’ll receive instant, easy-to-read and understand updates on any legislation changes, and support in understanding how this affects your day-to-day practice.
You also receive exclusive access to member-only virtual Connect sessions on key policy updates, including funding, the EYFS and Ofsted.
Access to our specialist and competitively-priced insurance
We work in partnership with Intact Insurance (formerly RSA) – one of the world’s longest-serving general insurance companies – to provide a suite of insurance packages tailored to you.
Free policies and procedures for relevant membership types
Full day care, term time only, childminder professional and baby and toddler group members get access to our free downloadable policy templates included in their membership. These are kept up to date and in line with any changes to the EYFS.
Discounts on all our CPD-certified training and publications
As a member, you get up to 30% off all publications and toolkits, and up to 50% off Alliance training, including our popular online sessions on safer recruitment, baby room practice, and the role of the designated safeguarding lead.
Discounted access the Alliance payslip service
Alliance members get an exclusive discount on our comprehensive, secure payslip service for pre‑schools, full daycare nurseries, childminders, out of school clubs and other community groups.
Exclusive access to Early Years Metaverse
This unique virtual reality training allows you to experience real-world scenarios that you’ll come across working in the early years, in a self-contained fictional setting. You can practise and get assessed on your knowledge in a real-time scenario, leaving you prepared for when you come across a situation for the first time.
Exclusive access to tools to help track and support staff learning:
EYA Central is the Alliance’s one-stop shop for early years training and resources. As well as being able to access support for your own CPD, as a member, you’ll also be able to track and support your team’s learning. This includes the ability to see what courses your staff members have signed up to and completed, and to assign courses as needed. You can also download reports and certificates to evidence learning within your setting.
Over 30 free EYA Learn modules
As a member, you get free access to CPD-certified EYA Learn modules. These on-demand online training modules cover topics like safeguarding, inspection preparedness, inclusion and much more.
24 hours access to legal helpline Law-Call
If you have a legal query, like what to do if employee alleges they’ve been unfairly dismissed, you can call legal helpline Law-Call to speak to an expert who will give you advice, tailored to your specific situation.
Free Alliance annual conference places
Alliance members and their teams can attend our virtual annual conference, with keynote speeches from CEO Neil Leitch and leading early years experts, plus a choice of practical seminars, for free.
Which membership is right for you?
We have membership types tailored to every possible type of provision, from full daycare to term-time settings, childminding professionals to baby and toddler groups, schools, wraparound and holiday care – and even students. Click on the right membership type for you below, and we’ll tell you a little bit more about it!
Membership packages
Full daycare
For pre-schools, nurseries and other Ofsted-registered settings operating full-time, all year round.
Find out more about full daycare membership
Our full day care membership is for pre-schools and nurseries open year round, and costs you only £138 per year (that’s 37p per day!). You will have access to all the benefits listed above, including our free Policies and Procedures, and feel safe in the knowledge that whenever you need support, we will be there.
And if your setting is part of a chain, you can add additional sites for only £48 each.
Term time-only
For pre-schools, nurseries and other Ofsted-registered settings operating during the school term only.
Find out more about term-time only membership
Our term time-only membership is suitable for pre-schools and nurseries open during the school term for just £138 per year (that’s 37p per day!). You can access to all the benefits listed above, including our free Policies and Procedures, and while your setting may only be open 38 weeks a year, you can access your Alliance benefits any time.
And if your setting is part of a chain, you can add additional sites for only £48 each.
Baby and toddler groups and classes
For unregistered groups at one site or multiple sites that parents attend with their children.
Find out more about baby and toddler membership
Our baby and toddler group memberships come in two different levels – single site only for £41 per year (that’s 11p per day!), or a multi-site membership for £53 per year (14p per day!).
Among the other Alliance benefits, we’ve created Policies and Procedures specifically for you, which you can download for free and personalise to your provision.
Childminding professional
For childminders on the early years register, both with and without domestic premises.
Find out more about childminding professional membership
Our childminding professional membership is tailored to the circumstances of childminding professionals, and costs you only £61 per year (that’s 17p per day!).
We know that you face unique challenges in the sector and can sometimes struggle to access training held at times when you are still working. At the Alliance, we regularly schedule training at times suitable for childminders, and hold quarterly networking sessions specifically for you. Plus, as a member, you get exclusive free access to our Policies and Procedures, regularly updated in line with the EYFS.
More packages
We also have membership options for wraparound care, holiday clubs, crèches, schools and individuals, as well as a free student membership.
Individual
For individuals with an interest in the early years
A great choice for parents and carers looking to support their children or those working with sector professionals. We provide support and resources for interests across the early years.
N.B. If you are an Ofsted-registered childminder, please look at our childminding professional membership.
Membership costs just £42 a year (just 12p a day!) with a discount available for annual direct debit payments.
Benefits
- More than 30 free online training modules via EYA Learn, the Alliance’s new suite of online training courses
- 10 issues of Under 5 magazine a year — each issue is packed with sector news, policy updates and activity ideas
- Support from our expert advisers
- Up to 30% off our extensive range of publications and resources
- Free mini-guides on various aspects of running an early years business
- ‘EY Instant Update’ emails to alert you of any policy, legislation or funding changes
School
Specialist membership for schools designed to help you give children and families the best early years experiences.
We ensure your team is supported with advice and training so that everyone involved with your provision can enjoy all the early years has to offer.
N.B. If your school’s early years provision requires insurance cover, please look at our full daycare or term-time only membership.
Membership costs just £106 a year (just 29p a day) with a discount available for annual direct debit payments. Monthly direct debits options are also available to insurance customers.
Benefits
- EYA Learn: More than 20 CPD-accredited online courses
- Under 5 magazine: Ten issues a year filled with sector news, expert advice and activities.
- Membership and customer service: Access to information and support from our expert advisers
- Publications: Free mini-guides and discounts on our publications
Holiday clubs
For organisations offering holiday club provision
Membership costs just £41 per year (just 11p a day!) with a discount available for annual direct debit payments.
Monthly direct debits options are also available to insurance customers.
Benefits
- More than 20 free online training courses for you and your team
- 10 issues of Under 5 magazine a year — each issue is packed with sector news, policy updates and activity ideas
- Support from our expert advisers
- Up to 30% off our extensive range of publications and resources
Wraparound
For organisations offering wraparound provision
Membership costs just £53 a year (just 15p a day!) with a discount available for annual direct debit payments.
Monthly direct debits options are also available to insurance customers.
Benefits
- More than 30 free online training module for your team via EYA Learn, the Alliance’s new suite of online training courses
- Exclusive access to the ‘account administration’ mode on EYA Central, our one-stop-shop for all Alliance training, publications and resources. This allows managers and other organisation leaders to support and manage their staff’s learning on the platform
- Access to 24-hour legal helpline Law-Call
- 10 issues of Under 5 magazine a year — each issue is packed with sector news, policy updates and activity ideas
- Access to our specialist and competitively-priced insurance packages
- Discounted rates on our payslip services
- ‘EY Instant Update’ emails to alert you of any policy, legislation or funding changes as they happen
- Support from our expert advisers
- Up to 30% off our extensive range of publications and resources
- Free mini guides on various aspects of running an early years business
Crèche
For organisations offering crèche provision
Membership costs just £138 a year (just 38p a day!) with a discount available for annual direct debit payments.
Monthly direct debits options are also available to insurance customers.
Benefits
- More than 30 free online training module for your team via EYA Learn, the Alliance’s new suite of online training courses
- Exclusive access to the ‘account administration’ mode on EYA Central, our one-stop-shop for all Alliance training, publications and resources. This allows managers and other organisation leaders to support and manage their staff’s learning on the platform
- Access to 24-hour legal helpline Law-Call
- 10 issues of Under 5 magazine a year — each issue is packed with sector news, policy updates and activity ideas
- Access to our specialist and competitively-priced insurance packages
- Discounted rates on our payslip services
- ‘EY Instant Update’ emails to alert you of any policy, legislation or funding changes as they happen
- Support from our expert advisers
- Up to 30% off our extensive range of publications and resources
- Free mini guides on various aspects of running an early years business
Student
Free membership for those studying towards an early years qualification.
We offer free membership to all students currently completing an early years qualification. You’ll need to provide your course details, and use a student email, to register.
Benefits
- access to our membership magazine, Under 5, with issues out 10 times a year
- discounts on our range of early years publications,
- discounts on our Virtual Classrooms and other online courses
- access to our member-only Connect Sessions, keeping you up-to-date on a range of early years policy updates such as EYFS updates and regulatory changes
- free access to the Alliance annual Conference, where our CEO Neil Leitch, along with others, discuss and dissect the important issues facing the sector
Are you a local authority, college or other type or organisation not listed above?
Contact us for information about our affiliate membership to see if this is right for you.