Experience-based route for early years practitioners
Applies to England
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
The consultation on a proposed experience-based route for early years launched on 22 April 2024. This would be a route to allow early years staff to gain approved status to work within staff to child ratios at level 3.
This route was first proposed in the consultation on proposed changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework in 2023. Having considered all the responses to that consultation in its response, the Department for Education intends to proceed with this change.
We have also published guidance for providers and practitioners implementing the experience-based route for early years.
Original consultation
Consultation description
The consultation on proposed changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), launched on 31 May 2023, included a proposal to introduce a new experience-based route for early years practitioners to gain approved status to work within staff to child ratios.
Having considered all the responses to that consultation, the Department for Education noted its intention to proceed with this change in its response.
This is a technical consultation to test:
- a proposed model for the experience-based route
- proposed eligibility criteria
- process requirements
We are seeking views to help us reach well-informed decisions.
Updates to this page
Published 22 April 2024Last updated 28 January 2025 + show all updates
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Added government response to the consultation.
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First published.