Statutory guidance

Early years qualification requirements and standards

The qualifications that staff must hold to be included in the specified staff:child ratios at levels 2, 3 and 6 of the early years foundation stage (EYFS).

Applies to England

Documents

Details

The requirements in this document came into force on 3 March 2025.

Updates to this page

Published 8 December 2023
Last updated 3 March 2025 show all updates
  1. The updated version of the statutory guidance is now in force. We originally published this document on 10 February when the related statutory instrument was laid.

  2. Published an update to 'Early years qualification requirements and standards' to come into force 3 March 2025 subject to parliamentary procedure. This update allows for the introduction of the experience-based route for early years. It also clarifies the qualification requirements for staff counting in the level 6 staff:child ratios in early years settings and references to the early years qualifications list.

  3. 'Early years qualification requirements and standards' updated to reflect the Early Years Educator level 3 criteria from September 2024.

  4. First published.

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