Early years qualification rules relaxed amid recruitment crisis

Managers will be able to count staff with level 2 qualifications as level 3 in staff-to-child ratios

Managers will be able to count staff with level 2 qualifications as level 3 in staff-to-child ratios

28 Jan 2025, 16:50

More from this author

Strict rules around qualification levels of early years staff are to be relaxed from September to give the sector “respite” from a long-running recruitment crisis, the government has announced.

In a consultation response published today, the Department for Education (DfE) confirmed details of a new “experience-based” route for early years staff.

This route will waive a staff-to-child ratio rule stipulating that at least one staff member must hold an approved level 3 qualification in each early years age group.

The government hopes the plans – set in motion by the Conservatives early last year – will help early years providers “address the challenges they are facing recruiting and retaining the right educators”.

Experts say the move will help address urgent staff shortages but have warned that the crisis is caused by “huge disparities” in pay and working conditions.

Staffing shortages in the sector are likely to limit the number of new early years places available, despite the government increasing “free early education” hours to 30 hours per week for all under-fives from September this year.

Experienced based route

About 1,200 people and organisations responded to the consultation – which ran from April to June last year – with the majority agreeing that early years providers should be able to award experienced-based staff themselves.

Under the new rules, managers at Ofsted ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ providers will be allowed to count staff who have a level 2 early years qualification or a “relevant” level 3 qualification as being at level 3, for the purposes of staff-to-child ratios.

The staff member must have at least one year of experience in early years and meet at least 50 percent of the criteria for level 3.

Before making a final decision, the manager – who must have worked in early years for at least two years – will be required to supervise the staff member for about 30 days.

The government said it is “clear” that the experience-based route will eventually be “phased out” and replaced with a “long term assessment-based route” for experienced-based level 3 staff to “gain a full and relevant qualification”.

However, it is unclear when this is likely to be rolled out.

‘Welcome respite’

Sector bodies hope that the rule change will encourage more diverse staff to enter early years.

However, Neil Leitch, chief executive officer of the Early Years Alliance, said while the new route will likely offer “some welcome respite” from the staffing crisis, it should be part of a “wider recruitment and retention strategy”.

He added: “Ultimately, if the government not only wants to attract new educators into the sector but also ensure they stay in the long term, it needs to ensure that those working in the sector get the respect – and crucially, the pay – they so clearly deserve.”

Highly qualified teachers needed

Shortly after confirming the plans, the government also announced a new early years teacher degree apprenticeship standard.

Education minister Stephen Morgan said the three-year course would be a “vital step” to delivering an early years system that ensures children start school “ready to learn”.

Professor Eunice Lumsden, head of childhood youth and families at the University of Northampton, said research shows that children benefit from a “high quality, graduate-led” early childhood education.

She added: “However, there is no doubt we have a sector in crisis; I know how many are struggling to recruit, and this new route offers opportunities for experienced practitioners whose qualifications do not meet the full and relevant criteria. 

“There are no easy solutions to the current situation, but it is important that one of the unintended consequences of this direction of travel is that expectations for qualifications are lowered.”

Latest education roles from

Chief Education Officer (Deputy CEO)

Chief Education Officer (Deputy CEO)

Romero Catholic Academy Trust

Director of Academy Finance and Operations

Director of Academy Finance and Operations

Ormiston Academies Trust

Principal & Chief Executive

Principal & Chief Executive

Truro & Penwith College

Group Director of Marketing, Communications & External Engagement

Group Director of Marketing, Communications & External Engagement

London & South East Education Group

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Supporting the UK’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan Through Skills

The UK Government’s Decarbonising Transport: A Better, Greener Britain strategy sets a legally binding path towards a net-zero transport...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Project power: ASDAN expands its qualifications portfolio

From 2026, ASDAN’s planned Foundation and Higher Project Qualifications will sit alongside its Extended Project Qualification[CM1] , creating a complete...

Advertorial
ATAs

Spotlight on excellence: Nominations now open for the Apprenticeship & Training Awards 2026

Nominations are open for the 2026 Apprenticeship & Training Awards, celebrating outstanding employers and providers with national recognition, a...

FE Week Reporter
Sponsored post

Funding Adult Green Skills

New sources of funding are available to finance the delivery of green skills to all learners. Government policy is...

Tyler Palmer

More from this theme

Careers

Careers service shake-up ‘rebrand, not reform’, say MPs

The government wants Jobcentres to offer more employment support and careers advice

Josh Mellor
Careers

PAC: Unclear how DWP will spend £55m for merged jobs and careers service

MPs urges government to set out its plans for joint jobcentre/national careers service to avoid ‘rushed decisions’

Anviksha Patel
Careers

First area chosen to trial new jobs and careers service ‘pathfinder’

West Yorkshire will test ‘personalised’ jobseeker support

Anviksha Patel
16-19, Careers

Mayors spending on youth to Get Britain Working

Some areas are investing in better systems to track whether young people stay in work or training as they...

Josh Mellor

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply