- Under-2s: 1:3 with Level 3 lead and half other staff Level 2
- Age 2: 1:5 (replaced 1:4; providers may still run 1:4)
- Age 3+: 1:8, or 1:13 with a Level 6 teacher working directly with children
- Childminders: max 6 under 8, of whom max 3 young children and normally 1 under 1
- Experience-based Level 3 route available since 2025 at manager discretion
Group and school-based providers: ratios by age
New to the framework? Start with our plain-English guide to what the EYFS framework is and the 17 early learning goals the framework works towards.
The tables below consolidate the ratio rules, the qualification each adult needs to be counted, and the exceptions settings most often ask about. They apply to England only; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland publish their own ratios.
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| Child's age | Minimum ratio | Qualification requirements for staff counted in ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 | 1 adult : 3 children | At least one member of staff Level 3 full and relevant; at least half of all other staff Level 2 full and relevant. At least half of staff must have (or be working towards) training in the care of babies. The room leader must have suitable experience of working with under-twos. |
| Age 2 | 1 adult : 5 children | At least one Level 3 full and relevant; at least half of other staff Level 2 full and relevant. |
| Age 3 and over (no Level 6 present) | 1 adult : 8 children | At least one Level 3 full and relevant; at least half of other staff Level 2 full and relevant. |
| Age 3 and over (Level 6 present and working directly with the children) | 1 adult : 13 children | A person with QTS, Early Years Professional Status, Early Years Teacher Status or another suitable Level 6 qualification; at least one other staff member Level 3 full and relevant. |
| Reception classes in maintained schools (during school hours) | 1 : 30 (infant class size rule) | Qualified teacher; the ratio is set by school legislation rather than the 1:13 EYFS rule. |
The 1:5 ratio for two-year-olds replaced 1:4 in September 2023 (optional) and is now the standard minimum; providers may still choose to operate at 1:4.
Childminders: ratios and the "six under eight" rule
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| Rule | Maximum per childminder (or per adult where an assistant counts) |
|---|---|
| Children under 8 in total | 6 |
| Of whom "young children" (under 5 / under compulsory school age) | 3 |
| Of whom under 1 year old | 1 (exceptions for siblings/twins and continuity of care, if each child's needs can be met) |
| Childminder's own children | Count towards the total when present |
Childminders do not have to hold a Level 3 to register, but a Level 3 full-and-relevant qualification is what lets them be treated as the qualified adult when working with assistants or in a group setting. See how to become a childminder in England for the registration route.
Which qualifications count as "full and relevant"?
The Department for Education publishes the early years qualifications list (the EYQL, searchable through its qualification checker). A qualification counts at a given level only if it appears on that list for the year it was awarded. Not sure whether your own qualification counts? Use our early years qualification checker guide. The three levels that matter for ratios:
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| Level | Typical qualification | What it unlocks in ratios |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 | Early Years Practitioner diploma | Counts as one of the "other staff" who must hold Level 2; cannot be the sole Level 3 lead |
| Level 3 | Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator (Ofqual-regulated; Lift College's is awarded by TQUK) | The required Level 3 lead in every age band; eligible to be room leader, deputy, manager |
| Level 6 | QTS, EYTS, EYPS, or an EYQL-listed Level 6 | Allows the 1:13 ratio for over-threes |
The Level 3 row above refers to the Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator (Ofqual-regulated; Lift College's is awarded by TQUK).
Compare the levels side by side in our early years qualifications compared guide, or browse childcare qualifications online.
The experience-based route (2025 onwards)
Since 2025, managers can choose to count a member of staff at Level 3 if they hold no full-and-relevant Level 3 but meet the experience-based criteria set out by the DfE (a Level 2 or an unlisted Level 3, plus a period of supervised practice and a manager's sign-off). The route is optional, at the manager's discretion, and is not a qualification; staff on it cannot be counted as Level 3 in a different setting without going through the process again. For that reason most employers still ask for the recognised Level 3 diploma.
The maths and English rule
Since 4 January 2024, Level 3 staff no longer need a Level 2 maths qualification to count in ratios, but they still need a suitable Level 2 English qualification, such as GCSE English at grade 4 (or C) or above or Functional Skills English Level 2. Without it, they can only be counted at Level 2. Setting managers appointed on or after 4 January 2024 must hold a suitable Level 2 maths qualification or achieve one within two years of starting in the post. Settings may still set their own entry requirements.
Common exceptions and edge cases
- Mixed-age rooms: ratios are applied to the age of each child, so a room with two 2-year-olds and six 3-year-olds needs enough adults to meet 1:5 for the younger pair and 1:8 for the rest, not simply the ratio of the majority age.
- Lunch and nap times: ratios still apply; the EYFS allows some flexibility about which staff are present for short periods, provided children's needs are met and supervision is adequate.
- Students and volunteers: students and long term volunteers aged 17 or over, and apprentices aged 16 or over, can be counted in ratios at the level below their level of study, if the provider is satisfied they are suitable, competent and responsible and they hold a valid paediatric first aid qualification (EYFS 3.57).
- Outings: the setting must risk-assess and may need higher ratios than in-setting minimums.
- Before/after-school and holiday clubs for children in Reception and above: no EYFS ratio applies, but providers must ensure sufficient staff; for 3 to 5s in those settings the 1:8 rule still applies.
Next step: the Level 3 Early Years Educator route
If you are aiming for the Level 3 lead role, see our career guide on how to become an early years educator.
Want to count in ratios at Level 3? Our Level 3 childcare qualification is the TQUK Level 3 Early Years Educator diploma, which the DfE lists as full and relevant at Level 3, studied online with 300 placement hours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EYFS ratio for 2-year-olds?
What is the EYFS ratio for under-2s?
How many 3- and 4-year-olds can one adult look after?
How many children can a childminder have under the EYFS?
Do you need a Level 3 to count in EYFS ratios?
Can unqualified staff be counted in EYFS ratios?
Do nursery staff need GCSE maths and English?
Sources checked
- Department for Education: Early years foundation stage statutory framework for group and school-based providers (gov.uk)
- Department for Education: Early years foundation stage statutory framework for childminders (gov.uk)
- Department for Education: Early years qualifications list and qualification checker (gov.uk)
- Department for Education: Experience-based route, guidance for providers (gov.uk)
- Ofsted: Early years inspection handbook (gov.uk)