Understanding EYFS Ratios

Understanding EYFS Ratios

In early years, there are two main types of ratios you need to be aware of.

The first being Staff to children Ratios.

We will go over both types of ratios in this video.

But first welcome to the channel.

Intro Video

Here at Open a nursery YouTube channel I support you run, grow and primarily open your childcare business.

If this is your first time here, check out the channel, I have lots of videos all around childcare and Early Years.  And if you find this video useful don’t forget to like and subscribe.

At the end of this video, I will also introduce you to this great new and most importantly free tool that helps you to manage and work out your staffing ratios instantly. So stick around to learn more about this.

But first let’s get straight into arguably what is the most important ratio in regards to early years. 

Which is the children to staff ratio, and the age ranges for such.

So, essentially how many children can one staff member look after.

In England the ratios guidelines can be found in the EYFS Statutory Framework.

The ages of the children in your setting affect how many staff members might be required, so it is important to reassess your early years ratios regularly.

The guidelines provided by the EYFS framework specify the minimum EYFS ratios.

Though, there is some criteria to satisfy for a staff member/ or staff members to be included in the ratio.

Firstly:

• Staff members included in the EYFS ratios must be aged 17 or over (and staff aged under 17 must be supervised at all times).
• Volunteers, apprentices, and students on long-term placements can be included in the ratios at the discretion of the provider if they believe the individual is competent and responsible.
• If the setting provides overnight care, the ratios continue to apply overnight and at least one staff member must be awake at all times.
• Ofsted may determine that a provider increase their EYFS ratios to ensure children’s safety and wellbeing.

For each age group, there are certain rules around the ratios too, which I will state also, primarily around the qualification.

But we’ll get into what the ratios are now.

Starting with Babies, Children aged 0-2 years old.

The ratio here is 1:3. So, for every 3 babies you need at least one member of staff.

With this:

• At least one member of staff must hold a full and relevant level 3 qualification and must be suitably experienced in working with this age group.
• At least half of all other staff members must hold a full and relevant qualification of at least level 2.
• At least half of all other staff members must have received training specifically relating to the care of babies.
• The person in charge of an under-twos room must be suitably experienced in working with this age group.

So, for example, if you have 9 babies, you would need 3 members of staff.  One would need to be level 3 or above, one would need to be level 2 or above and the other can be unqualified.

For toddlers, children aged two years old.

The ratio is 1:4.  So, for every 4 toddlers you need at least one member of staff.

Again,

• At least one member of staff must hold a full and relevant level 3 qualification and must be suitably experienced in working with this age group.
• At least half of all other staff members must hold a full and relevant qualification of at least level 2.

For preschoolers there are two different ratios depending on the qualification of the members of staff.

The standard ratio is 1:8. So, for every 8 preschoolers you need at least one member of staff.   The qualification requirements remain the same with the setting needing:

• At least one member of staff must hold a full and relevant level 3 qualification and must be suitably experienced in working with this age group.
• At least half of all other staff members must hold a full and relevant qualification of at least level 2

The ratio can be increased if there is a member of staff working directly with the children who holds a Qualified Teacher Status, Early Years Professional Status, Early Years Teacher Status or another suitable level 6 qualification.

Here the ratio increases to 1:13.  So, one member of staff can look after 13 preschoolers.

Though you still need at least one other member of staff must hold an approved level 3 qualification.

That’s the ratios for the three age groups, I hope that is understandable for you.

Things get more complicated when you start to mix age groups.  So, for example you may have your preschool children and your toddlers all together.

A common mistake people make with this is to treat the ratios as a fraction. So for example counting the toddlers as ¼ and the preschoolers as 1/8.  Meaning one member of staff looking after 6 preschoolers and 1 toddler would be okay.

Unfortunately this is not the case.

In order to satisfy the ratios, the only way you can mix is if you bring your older children down into the younger aged ratio.

So, for example if you have 12 children in one room, 1 toddler and 11 preschoolers.  The ratio for the toddlers is 1:4.  Meaning you have 3 spaces available.  You can take 3 preschoolers away from the 11 and include them in the 1:4 ratio. Then you would have 8 preschoolers left.  Meaning that you can care for these 12 children with a minimum of 2 staff members.

Does that make sense?

Don’t worry if it doesn’t.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the video, I have created a tool that you can use for free to instantly work out your ratios.  No need to download or save any documents. (insert video of me…)

Simply put in the number of children you have and the calculator will work out how many staff you need.

So, for example…

I have put a link in the description where you can access this Nursery Ratio Calculator. 

Just save it to your bookmarks and use it whenever you need it.

The second key type of ratio used in early years settings is the minimum space requirements.

Now, this isn’t as important if you already work in a childcare setting and your setting is already registered with Ofsted.

But, if you are opening your setting this is key to know.

As well as being setting out these limits on early years settings with ratios of staff to children, there are also EYFS minimum space requirements that apply to indoor spaces. Following the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, early years settings must have a minimum space per child in their care.

“Providers must meet the following indoor space requirements where indoor activity in a building(s) forms the main part of (or is integral) to the provision:

• Children under two years: 3.5m² per child
• Two-year-olds: 2.5m² per child
• Children aged three to five years: 2.3m² per child

These calculations should be based on the net or useable areas of the rooms used by the children, not including storage areas, thoroughfares, dedicated staff areas, cloakrooms, utility rooms, kitchens, and toilets.

If you want more information on space requirements and regulations around registering your building then check out the video that’s on the screen now.

Otherwise, don’t forget to like and subscribe if you enjoyed the video.

Have fun using the free nursery ratio calculator.

And I will see you in the next video.

God Bless.