Early years qualifications achieved in the United Kingdom
Lists of qualifications that meet DfE's criteria for counting in the early years foundation stage framework staff:child ratios.
Documents
Details
This check list of early years qualifications achieved in the United Kingdom details:
- all full and relevant qualifications accepted by the Department for Education (DfE) to work in an early years setting
- common qualifications that are not accepted
For information on non-UK qualifications, refer to the early years qualifications achieved outside the United Kingdom guidance.
If you have further queries, contact Ecctis. Information on the guidance Ecctis is able to provide can be found on its website.
If you contacted the DfE early years workforce team prior to 5 September 2022, you do not need to contact Ecctis.
Updates to this page
Last updated 1 November 2024 + show all updates
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Updated the list. We have added newly-approved qualifications to the post-September 2024 tab. We have also added an extra column to each tab to set out, for each individual qualification listed, which staff:child ratio the qualification holder can be included in.
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Updated 'Early years qualifications achieved in the United Kingdom: check list' with newly approved qualifications, and updated wording around qualification dates.
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Updated 'Early years qualifications achieved in the United Kingdom: check list' with newly approved qualifications.
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The 'Early years qualifications achieved in United Kingdom check list' was updated to include newly approved qualifications, as well as making some edits to awarding organisation names for consistency.
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Updated the ‘Early years qualifications achieved in the United Kingdom check list’ to add the tab ‘F + R Quals list post Sept 2024’, following the updates to the Level 3 Early Years Educator criteria effective from September 2024. For guidance on Tab 3, please see rows 16 to 18 of the 'guide for using this document' tab.
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Updated the 'Early years qualifications achieved in United Kingdom check list' to add 'Early Years Educator (EYE) Level 3 Apprenticeship'.
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Updated the 'Early years qualifications achieved in United Kingdom check list' to add one Level 5 Diploma offered by Training Qualifications United Kingdom to the tab 'Full and relevant qualifications list post 1 September 2014'.
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Updated the 'from' date for 'FdEd in Professional Practice in Early Years 0-8 (with EYE)' offered by University of Hull, listed in the after September 2014 tab, in the check list.
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Added a link to 'Early years qualification requirements and standards', which you should refer to from 4 January 2024.
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'Early years qualifications achieved in United Kingdom check list' was updated.
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'Early years qualifications achieved in United Kingdom check list' was updated.
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'Early years qualifications achieved in United Kingdom check list' was updated.
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The 'Early years qualifications achieved in United Kingdom check list' was updated.
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'Early years qualifications achieved in United Kingdom check list' and 'Qualifications achieved in the United Kingdom' have been updated.
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'Early years qualifications achieved in United Kingdom check list' has been updated. Added degrees and honours degrees at level 6 offered by various awarding organisations and updated the 'notes/additional requirements' for 'BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies' offered by various awarding organisations in the tab 'Full and relevant qualifications list post 1 September 2014'.
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'Qualifications achieved in the United Kingdom' has been updated with information for 'Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish qualifications'.
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Updated the 'Early years qualifications achieved in England check list'. Added one Level 5 Diploma offered by Crossfields Institute to the tab 'Full and relevant qualifications list post 1 September 2014'.
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Updated the 'Early years qualifications achieved in England check list'. Added 2 new foundation degrees offered by Kingston University to the tab 'Full and relevant qualifications list post 1 September 2014'.
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Updated 'Early years qualifications achieved in England check list' spreadsheet to add a new foundation degree in early childhood studies offered jointly by the University Centre Peterborough and the Open University to the tab 'Full and Relevant Qualifications achieved post 1 September 2014'.
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We have updated the 'Early years qualifications achieved in England check list' spreadsheet.
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First published.