DfE Early Years Qualification Announcement
The Department for Education have announced a package of early years qualification initiatives that will both support entry and progression within the workforce and ensure that the staff working with young children have the right skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality provision.
To support early years settings to recruit and retain staff and meet this increased demand, from 3 March 2025 eligible educators will be able to access an experience-based route to working in the Staff:Child ratios at level 3. This new route recognises the significant contribution that skilled and experienced staff can make to the education and care of young children . This is an opportunity for educators without currently approved qualifications, to develop their careers, and for providers to maximise the potential of their talented staff in a way that works best for the children in their care. The full consultation response can be found here.
Alongside this we have announced the publication of the Early Years Teacher Degree Apprenticeship standard. This new, graduate-level qualification will give everyone from school leavers and junior staff to senior leaders the opportunity to easily move into a specialist career in the early years sector.
We are also pleased to announce the Check an Early Years Qualification digital service which will be available later this Spring to early years managers. This service will guide managers through the process of checking the approval status of qualifications held by existing staff members and prospective employees, increasing their confidence that they have appropriately qualified staff ahead of the September expansion.
These initiatives will support SoS’ vision for a childcare system that supports the sector, creates the best possible experience for parents and gives all children access to the opportunities they deserve.