Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of early years settings that have had to relax staff to children ratios as a result of covid-19 related absences for (a) 0 to 2 year olds and (b) 3 and 4 year olds; and what assessment he has he of the impact of those changes on children.

The department does not collect data on the number of early years settings that have had to relax staff to child ratios.

The statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (EYFS) sets out staff to child ratios to help ensure that there is adequate staffing to meet the needs of, and to safeguard, children. More information can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974907/EYFS_framework_-_March_2021.pdf.

The government considers COVID-19 to be an exceptional circumstance in which the staff to child ratios set out in the EYFS can temporarily be changed, if necessary, for example to respond to COVID-related workforce absences.

In all circumstances, any provider using flexibilities remains responsible for maintaining the quality of care and safety and security of children in the setting, as set out in paragraph 3.31 of the EYFS framework. Ratios should be guided by all relevant requirements and by the needs of individual children within the group.

We are in continual contact with early years sector organisations through regular meetings and working groups, and are feeding those messages right into the heart of government.