Children should be supervised at all times, with staffing arrangements organised to meet the individual needs of all children.

Exceptions to the requirement that staff included in the ratios must be working directly with the children may only be made in limited circumstances, such as when the children are sleeping or resting.

Providers should put in place contingency arrangements for staff absences and emergencies [1, 2]. When there is staff absence or an emergency occurs suitable arrangements might include drawing on a pool of suitable staff, re-grouping of children, re-organising rooms and activities and re-deploying other suitable staff. When such disruptions occur there should continue to be a consistent experience for the child.

Where children in nursery classes and reception classes attend school for longer than the school day or in the school holidays, in provision run directly by the governing body or the proprietor, we recommend that the ratio of adults to children should be 1:8, that at least one member of staff should hold a full and relevant level 3 qualification (as defined by CWDC) and half all other staff should hold a full and relevant level 2 qualification (as defined by CWDC).

Staff/volunteers/students under the age of 17 cannot count towards the ratio and should be supervised at all times. Individuals aged 17 and over who are on long-term placements may be included in the ratios if the provider is satisfied they are competent and responsible.

Volunteers/committee members should be given full information and guidance on their roles and responsibilities.

Some schools may choose to mix their reception classes with groups of younger children, in which case they should use their discretion in establishing ratios for these mixed groups based on the EYFS welfare requirements (that is, 1:30 for the reception group and 1:13, 1:8 and so on for the younger children). This applies whether the pre-school element is provided directly by the school or in partnership through a PVI provider. However, in exercising this discretion the school, and any partner provider, must comply with the statutory requirements relating to the education of children of compulsory school age children and infant class sizes. At all times it is necessary to meet the needs of individual children and it may be appropriate to exceed these minimum requirements. Where a school operates in partnership with a PVI pre-school provider both parties will assume shared responsibility for meeting the ratios in the amalgamated setting.

Examples of how these mixed-age groups may work in practice are set out in the Practice Guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage.