Purpose -This paper seeks to describe a cost-benefit analysis of early childhood education programmes.Design/methodology/approach -The analysis utilises the best evidence available for early education programmes, combined with data from Washington State and economic literature to determine the monetary implications of these programmes.Findings -The results indicate that early childhood education can yield benefits that substantially outweigh the costs of the programmes. In addition, these benefits were found to apply in many different public sector areas.Originality/value -The paper offers an analytic model to determine the long-term benefits of early intervention programmes.