Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the staff to children ratio at pre-schools in rural areas.

The statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (EYFS) sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five years of age. This includes the minimum staff to child ratios that all early years providers must comply with, which is referenced in section 3 of the framework here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/596629/EYFS_STATUTORY_FRAMEWORK_2017.pdf.

Ofsted inspects early years settings against the EYFS statutory framework, which includes ensuring that safeguarding and welfare requirements are being met. As at 31 March 2019, 95% of early years providers were rated good or outstanding by Ofsted, up from 68% in 2010.