The proposed changes that will be going ahead include: 

• Removing the requirement for level 3 educators to hold a level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) maths qualification, and instead applying this requirement to managers, who would "be responsible for ensuring their staff have the right level of maths knowledge to deliver high-quality early years provision".
• Changing the requirement around how providers support children with English as an Additional Language to develop their home language from “must” to “may.
• Allowing suitable students on long term placements and apprentices to be included in the ratios at the level below their level of study, if the provider is satisfied that they are competent and responsible.
• Removing the requirement for childminders to undertake pre-registration training in the EYFS (though understanding of the EYFS would continue to be assessed to the same level by Ofsted or a childminder agency prior to registration).
• Allowing childminders' assistant(s) to act as the key person.

The following changes will also be going ahead but at a later date after further consultation with the sector:

• Introducing an ‘experience-based route’ for educators to gain approved status to work within staff:child ratios, so that "otherwise suitable educators who don’t hold an approved level 3 qualification have a path to gaining ‘approved status’ without having to do a new qualification". This would allow educators to count within the level 3 ratio but would not give them a formal qualification.
• Clarifying the wording in the EYFS to reflect the Department’s policy that only those with Qualified Teacher Status, Early Years Teacher Status and Early Years Professional Status can operate in level 6 staff:child ratios.



However, the government has confirmed that it will not be proceeding with the following proposals:

• Reducing the percentage of level 2 qualified staff required per ratio for children of all ages from ‘at least half’ to either 30% or 40% where application
• Changing the qualification requirements for ratios so that they would not apply outside of peak working hours (for example, 9am-5pm). This would mean that staff would not need to hold an approved qualification outside of peak hours, though staff:child ratios, DBS, paediatric first aid and safety requirements would remain in place at these times.