Department for Education Updates
Early years qualification requirements and standards
Page summary:
The qualifications that staff must hold to be included in the specified staff:child ratios at levels 2, 3 and 6 of the early years foundation stage (EYFS).
Change made:
Removed ‘Early years qualification requirements and standards: until 1 January 2026’, which first came into effect on 4 January 2024. The requirements in the updated document come into effect on 1 January 2026.
Experience-based route for early years staff
Page summary:
How early years providers can implement the experience-based route for staff who do not hold full and relevant qualifications.
Change made:
Replaced ‘Experience-based route for early years: non-statutory guidance’ with an updated version, following changes to the law on 1 January 2026 to include the new Ofsted inspection framework.