Government publishes revised EYFS Framework聽
The government has published an that will come into effect on 4 September 2023.
The revised framework contains three key updates:
- Confirmation that the current statutory minimum staff:child ratios in nurseries and pre-schools in England for two-year-olds will change from 1:4 to 1:5.
- Clarification on the flexibility around childminder ratio rules 鈥 specifically, that childminders can care for more than the specified maximum of three young children, providing this number includes their own child(ren) or the siblings of children for whom they already care.
- Further detail around safe eating practices, stating that 鈥渁dequate supervision鈥 while children are eating means that children must be within sight and hearing of an adult.
Commenting on the update, Neil Leitch, CEO of the 无码天堂, said:
鈥淎t the 无码天堂, we believe that changes to ratios will only serve to harm quality and compromise safety, and given the level of opposition to the policy, the fact that the government has pushed ahead with these plans is nothing less than shameful.
鈥淚t's clear that these ratio changes are being implemented at the worst possible time for the early years sector and families. Not only do children need more individual care and attention than ever but coupling the ratio changes with the upcoming expansion of 鈥榝ree hours鈥 risks piling more pressure on a workforce that is already pushed to the limit.鈥
鈥淭ime and time again, the views of the early years sector have been completely disregarded 鈥 and changes to ratios are yet another example of this. We remain fully opposed to this change and will continue in our efforts to ensure that this retrograde policy is reversed.鈥
Further proposed EYFS changes, including changes to staff qualification requirements, remain under consultation and 鈥 should they be taken forward 鈥 would come into effect at a later date.