EYFS staffing ratio and qualification requirements

Get to grips with the staffing ratio and qualification requirements in early years settings, and download our summary of the rules.

Updated
on 5 March 2025
See updates
School types: AllSchool phases: Nursery, PrimaryRef: 1267
Contents
  1. Staffing requirements
  2. Definitions
  3. Additional information
  4. Download our summaries

The statutory framework for the EYFS was updated on 1 November 2024

There were no changes to your requirements around staffing ratios.

Updates to the statutory framework Applying from 1 November 2024: Clarification of the level 6 qualification requirements for calculating staffing ratios Applying from 16 October 2024: Level 6 trainees who are deemed ‘competent and responsible’ can now be brought into level 3 staff:child ratios, at the discretion of the setting manager. Applying from 9 January 2024: All staff who have obtained a level 2 and/or level 3 qualification since 30 June 2016 must also hold a paediatric first aid (PFA) qualification to be included in the required staff:child ratios Applying from 4 January 2024: Two versions of the EYFS statutory framework came into force, 1 for childminders, 1 for school and group-based providers All newly appointed