Qualifications that do not count towards the early years鈥疎YFS鈥痵taff:child ratios
Published 10 February 2022
Applies to England
漏 Crown copyright 2022
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected].
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at /government/publications/early-years-qualifications-that-do-not-meet-the-criteria/qualifications-that-do-not-count-towards-the-early-yearseyfsstaffchild-ratios
Background
A person must have a qualification that meets the full and relevant criteria for early years qualifications to count towards the early years鈥�EYFS鈥痵taff:child ratios.
Nursing qualifications
Nurses registered before 1 September 2014 count towards the鈥�EYFS鈥痵taff:child ratios at level 3 if they are designated as follows on the鈥�痜or nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses:
Nurses register - sub part 1:
- RN8: children鈥檚 nurse, level 1
- RNC: children鈥檚 nurse, level 1
- RN1: registered adult nurse, level 1
Nurses register - sub part 2:
- RN7: general nurse, level 2
Midwives register:
- RM: midwife
Specialist community public health nursing register:
- RHV: health visitor
- HV: health visitor
- RSN: school nurse
- SN: school nurse
- SPC: specialist practitioner
- children鈥檚 nursing
- SPCC: specialist practitioner: community children鈥檚 nursing
The Department for Education (DfE)鈥痗onsiders that it would not be practical for an individual to maintain their registration if they no longer practice as a nurse. If it can be evidenced that a nurse has been on the register before 1 September 2014, then they continue to be full and relevant.
Nursing qualifications for nurses registered on or after 1 September 2014 do not meet the鈥�full and relevant criteria for early years qualifications鈥痑nd do not count in the鈥�EYFS鈥痵taff:child ratios.
Changes to NCFE CACHE and Pearson early years educator (EYE) and early years practitioner (EYP) qualifications certificates
When employing a member of staff, you will need to check NCFE CACHE and Pearson qualification certificates to establish whether the learner has achieved a 鈥榢nowledge only pathway鈥� early years educator (EYE) or early years practitioner (EYP) qualification.
For NCFE CACHE, where the achievement of the qualification is 鈥榢nowledge only pathway鈥�, the holder cannot be counted in the staffing ratios. The 鈥榢nowledge only pathway鈥欌��EYE鈥痮谤鈥�EYP鈥痲ualification allows the learner to progress to further education or higher education.
For Pearson, a 鈥榢nowledge only pathway鈥� has been developed for鈥�EYP鈥痑nd the鈥�EYE鈥痵tatus has been removed from鈥�EYE鈥痲ualifications to allow the learners to progress to further or higher education.
You can:
- get more information on the鈥�痺别产蝉颈迟别
- see which qualifications are affected using the documents on鈥�EYFS鈥痵taff:child ratios -鈥疍fE鈥痑pproved qualifications
Health and social care qualifications do not meet the full and relevant criteria.