All early years providers working with children aged 0 to 5 years must follow the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Here's what you need to know to meet qualification requirements for staff:child ratios.

Required Qualifications

Providers must make sure staff have approved level qualifications to count in the ratio, including for all level 2 and 3 staff members hold a valid paediatric first aid certificate.

To be included in staff:child ratios, you must have:

• A full and relevant qualification at Level 2, 3, or 6
• A valid Paediatric First Aid (PFA) certificate (renewed every 3 years)

The Department of Education defines the qualifications that staff must hold to count in the EYFS staff-to-child ratios. It is the early years provider's responsibility when recruiting early years practitioners that they check the Department of Education qualification checker list to ensure that person's qualification meets the full and relevant criteria. You can use this service to:

• check if an early years qualification achieved in England is approved as full and relevant by the Department for Education (DfE)
• confirm if someone who holds this qualification can count in staff:child ratios at level 2, 3 or 6 in an early years setting in England
• Click here to use the DfE digital service

English & Maths Requirements

Level 2 English (Required for Level 3 Practitioners)

Accepted qualifications include:

• Functional Skills English Level 2
• GCSE/International GCSE English (Grade 4/C or above)
• Key Skills Communication Level 2
• A/AS Level English (Grade E or above)
• O Level English (Grade C)
• CSE Grade 1 English
• Basic Skills Certificate Level 2 – Adult Literacy
• British Sign Language (BSL) – for primary BSL users

Level 2 Maths (Required for Setting Managers)

Accepted qualifications include:

• Functional Skills Maths Level 2
• GCSE/International GCSE Maths (Grade 4/C or above)
• Key Skills Application of Number Level 2
• A/AS Level Maths (Grade E or above)
• O Level Maths (Grade C)
• CSE Grade 1 Maths
• Basic Skills Certificate Level 2 – Adult Numeracy

Key Notes:

From January 2024, level 3 practitioners in group and school-based settings are no longer be required to hold a level 2 maths qualification to count within staff: child ratios but must require holding a suitable level 2 English qualification.

Setting managers in group and school-based settings appointed on or after 4 January 2024 must hold a level 2 maths qualification, or they achieve one within 2 years of starting in the position.

Working at level 6 within the staff: child ratios

To be included in the staff: child ratios at level 6, staff must hold one of the following or another approved level 6 qualification:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
• Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS)
• Early Years Professional Status (EYPS)

Paediatric First Aid (PFA)

In addition to obtaining a Level 2 or above full and relevant qualification, to be included as part of the staff to child ratios, within a group and school-based setting all staff must also hold a valid PFA qualification that meet Ofsted, EYFS and HSE requirements which is then renewed every 3 years. You can book a place on essential PFA training from the Buckinghamshire Council Early Years Training Hub.

Safeguarding Training

Providers must ensure that all practitioners receive safeguarding training appropriate to their role and in line with the criteria set out in Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Providers must ensure that practitioners are supported and confident to implement the setting’s safeguarding policy and procedures on an ongoing basis.

• Must be updated regularly- Renewed every two years. Providers may consider whether any staff need to undertake annual refresher training during any two-year period to help maintain basic skills and keep up to date with any changes to safeguarding procedures or as a result of any safeguarding concerns that occur in the setting.
• Should align with local safeguarding partnership guidance
• Book safeguarding training via the Buckinghamshire Council Early Years Training Hub.

Overseas Qualifications

Find out how to check overseas qualifications to count in ratios at level 3. If you hold an overseas qualification, you must:

• Ensure the qualification is equivalent to Level 3.
• Have comparable GCSE English and Maths (Grade C or above)
• Use the Ecctis Service to verify your qualification

Please see the Ecctis Service Guidance document for overseas qualifications.