Childcare Ratios: September 2025 Changes

As we move into September 2025, significant changes in childcare ratios will take effect. There are no changes to the ratios themselves, but who can count in staff-to-child ratios? These early years updates are designed to support settings in recruiting, retaining, and developing staff, particularly those with valuable experience but without a formal Level 3 qualification. 

What do the early years say about childcare ratios? 

In section 3.44, the EYFS states:  

“In settings on the early years register, the manager of the setting must hold an approved qualification at level 3 or above and at least half of all other staff must hold at least an approved level 2 qualification.” 

Managers appointed on or after 4/1/24 must have a suitable Level 2 qualification in maths, or attain one within two years of starting their position. This also applies if staff move to a new position. Managers also need at least two years’ experience working in an early years setting, or at least two years’ other suitable experience. 

Childcare Ratios 

Childcare ratios can be complex depending on the qualifications of your staff. Childcare ratios are set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework and apply across your setting as a whole, not just within individual rooms, so you can use staff flexibly, provided the overall ratio is met at all times.  

Under 2s - ratio: 1:3 

One member of staff per 3 children. This lower ratio is essential because infants require more individualised attention, personal care and developmental support.  

In addition:  

• At least one member of staff must hold an approved Level 3 qualification or be approved as Level 3 under the new EBR system, AND be suitably experienced in working with children under two 
• At least half of all other staff must hold an approved Level 2 qualification 
• At least half of all staff must have specific training in the care of babies 
• Where you have an under-two-year-old room, the room manager must have suitable experience of working with under-twos

So, for example, if you have 15 babies, you need 5 members of staff.  Of those, 1 would need to be Level 3 or above, and 2 would need to be Level 2 or above. The remaining 2 can be unqualified. 

2-year-olds - ratio: 1:5 

At least 1 member of staff per 5 children. Other things to consider:  

• At least one member of staff must hold an approved Level 3 qualification or be approved as Level 3 under the new EBR system 
• At least half of other staff must hold an approved Level 2 qualification 

If you have twenty 2-year-olds, you would need 4 members of staff.  One of those would need to be Level 3 or above, two others would need to be Level 2, and the fourth member could be unqualified. 

3 years and over – ratio: 1:8 or 1:13 

Childcare ratios here depend on the qualifications of staff working directly with the children: 

• 1:13 – If a Level 6 qualified practitioner is working directly with the children (e.g. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS), or Early Years Professional Status (EYPS))  
• 1:8 – If there is no Level 6 qualified practitioner present 

In both cases: 

• At least one other member of staff must hold an approved Level 3 qualification 
• At least half of the remaining staff must hold an approved Level 2 qualification 

So, if you have twenty children aged 3+ but no Level 6 practitioner, you need 3 members of staff.  One of those would need to be Level 3 or above; one would need to be Level 2. The third member could be unqualified. 

If you had a Level 6 practitioner working directly with the children, you could have 2 members of staff (one Level 6 practitioner and one other with a Level 3 qualification)  

These childcare ratios are the legal minimum. Many settings operate with higher numbers of qualified staff to enhance quality, safety, and staff well-being. 

The above ratios apply to England only. For other UK countries, the ratios are similar but there are differences too. See Childcare and nursery staff to child ratios in the UK for more details on ratios in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  

Managers have a duty to ensure that all staff counted in ratios are both competent and responsible. For a full list of approved childcare and early education qualifications, see the DfE’s Early Years Qualifications List. 

The new Experience-Based Route (EBR) 

rom September 2025, the new Experience-Based Route will allow certain experienced staff who do not currently have a Level 3 qualification, to be counted in Level 3 ratios provided they meet strict eligibility criteria and successfully complete the EBR assessment process. It does not result in them gaining a Level 3 qualification but it will allow them to be counted in Level 3 ratios.  

You can consider an EBR assessment if you have staff who: 

• Hold either a full-and-relevant Level 2 qualification (or equivalent from outside England) or a Level 3+ qualification that is relevant but not “full and relevant” under DfE criteria 
• Have at least one year’s experience working with children aged 0–5 in an early years or related setting in England 

There are some caveats: 

• No more than 50% of staff counted in Level 3 ratios at one premises can hold EBR status – the rest must have full and relevant approved Level 3 qualifications or higher  
• EBR status is not transferable – if staff move to another provider, they must be reassessed before counting in that setting’s ratios.  
• The assessor must hold a full and relevant qualification at Level 3 or above and have worked in an early years setting for at least two years 

The EBR system has been underway since March 2025, however, staff cannot be counted in Level 3 ratios until September 2025, to allow time for the required hours of supervised practice. These changes are designed to help you as a setting meet your statutory requirements, and can support you to develop your staff too, whilst upholding the highest standards of care.