Early Years Ratios Explained

As a parent, your little one is the centre of your universe. You revolve around them, often quite literally as you navigate a whirlwind of discarded toys, spilled lunches, and tearful moments. You’re their constant, able to respond to their needs at a moment’s notice. 

But that can make sending them off to nursery a daunting prospect as you (understandably) wonder if your child will be overlooked, unsupervised, and unsupported. 

That’s where early years ratios come in. 

From supervising outdoor exploration to monitoring mealtimes, early years ratios ensure there are always eyes on children in nurseries, with qualified staff swooping in to handle any mishaps, mayhem or mix-ups. 

But what exactly are early years staffing ratios? And how do they work?

Let’s explore, shall we? 

What are Early Years Ratios?

Sometimes known as staff-to-child ratios, early years ratios refer to the minimum number of staff required to supervise a specific number of children in an early years setting.

They’re a mandatory policy, set in the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework, to which all early years providers must abide, including nurseries and pre-schools.  

And while that may sound sort of… clinical, early years staffing ratios are put in place to ensure the safety, support, and supervision of all children in an early years setting. 

Essentially, someone will always be watching your little one.

The current early years staff ratios (set in January 2024) are:

• Under 2 years: 1:3
• 2 years 1:5
• 3 years and over: 1:8 or 1:13 

Using the example for under two years, this means that there must be one adult present for every three children on-site. This ratio grows as children age and require slightly less supervision.  Moreover, at least one member of staff must hold a relevant Level 3 qualification, and a minimum of half of the remaining staff must hold a Level 2 qualification. 

By ensuring that staff are appropriately qualified, early years providers (and parents) can be confident that staff are equipped to handle any issues that arise. 

There are several other requirements, too. For example, as of 2024, newly-appointed early years settings managers must either hold or achieve a level 2 Maths qualification within two years of their appointment. Moreover, children must always be within sight and hearing of a qualified staff member during mealtimes, including designated snack breaks. 

As you can see, early years staffing ratios are stringent, non-negotiable policies, designed to guarantee the safety and welfare of children. It’s the responsibility of nursery managers to ensure that all staff included in ratios are responsible, competent, and qualified. 

Who Sets Early Years Staffing Ratios?

In England, early years staffing ratios are set by the Department for Education, based on insights sourced from nurseries, childminders, and schools. 

As you can imagine, these early years ratios undergo rigorous feedback, designed to ensure that they’re the strongest they can be, considering a variety of scenarios. 

How Do Staff Ratios Affect Quality of Care?

As a parent, you want to know that your child is getting the attention, support, and encouragement they deserve. You want to know—beyond doubt—that they’re being nurtured, helping them develop into confident learners. 

But more than that, you want to know that they’re safe. That they’re being monitored with the same care and attention that you’d provide at home. Children are boisterous by nature; they get into all kinds of scrapes, jams, and pickles. 

And that’s exactly why staff ratios are so important. 

At their core, staff ratios in early years are designed to ensure the safety of children, as well as fostering an environment that allows them to grow and thrive. 

You see, staff ratios are so much more than an arbitrary tick-box exercise. They allow for the type of focused attention that’s vital to a child’s early development, with staff afforded time to focus on the interests and needs of the children under their care. 

Think about it. If staff are expected to oversee too many children, they won’t be able to offer as much individual attention, which directly impacts both safety and development. By striking a balance between staff and child numbers in nurseries, everyone's experience is improved.

The result? Children who feel safe, content, and understood.

Which means they can get down to the real business of nursery. (By which we mean creating at craft tables, tearing around outdoor play areas, and engaging with their unique interests, whatever they may be,) 

Staff ratios also offer parents that rarest of things: peace of mind. It’s difficult being separated from your child for longer periods but at least knowing that they’re being supervised by a qualified expert at all times takes the edge off. 

And there you have it. A beginner’s guide to early years ratios. From ensuring all children are properly supervised to allowing the time to develop stronger bonds, early years staffing ratios are calculated with your little one’s well-being in mind. 

For more information on the day-to-day realities of nursery, check out our blog where you’ll find articles on everything from the importance of parent partnership at nursery to how to deal with separation anxiety.