Experience-based route for early years staff
How early years providers can implement the experience-based route for staff who do not hold full and relevant qualifications.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This guidance outlines the recommended approach for early years providers who are interested in carrying out the experience-based route for staff in their setting.
This route allows for suitable and experienced staff, who do not hold full and relevant qualifications, to be included in the staff:child ratios at level 3 following a period of supervised practice.
This guidance is for:
- registered early years providers required to comply with the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework for group and school-based providers
- early years provider and premises managers
- early years staff
- school leaders, school staff and governing bodies in schools providing early years provision
The experience-based route: initial and final check form and record can be used:
- as a template when making assessments of staff proceeding with this route
- to record evidence of decision-making
This route is only available to providers and staff that meet the requirements set out in the Early years qualification requirements and standards document.
Updates to this page
Published 28 January 2025Last updated 3 March 2025 + show all updates
-
The experience-based route is now in law, as the related statutory instrument has now come into force. We have updated the page to reflect this. We have also updated the initial and final check form and record.
-
First published.