Experience-Based Route for Early Years Practitioners

The Department for Education consulted on a proposed decision-making model, eligibility criteria and process requirements for an experience-based route for early years staff. The proposed route would allow staff who do not hold approved qualifications to be included in the staff:child ratios at level 3 following a period of supervised practice.

The consultation received 1159 responses. The responses were broadly supportive, with a range of between 52% to 92% of respondents agreeing with each proposal.

Based on the responses to the consultation Government will proceed with implementing the experience-based route for early years staff. We have listened to the feedback on the detail of this proposed route in the consultation, and used this to inform how this route will work for early years providers.

We intend to proceed with the introduction of the experience-based route from 3^rd March 2025, subject to parliamentary approval. The Government’s response to the consultation is available online at Experience-based route for early years practitioners - GOV.UK, and guidance on the experience-based route can be found at Experience-based route for early years staff - GOV.UK.