Staffing

Policy statement

We provide a staffing ratio in line with the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage 2024 to ensure that children have sufficient individual attention and to guarantee care and education of a high quality. Our staff are appropriately qualified and we carry out checks for enhanced criminal records and barred list checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service in accordance with statutory requirements.

Procedures

To meet this aim we use the following ratios of adult to children:

• Children aged two years: 1 adult : 4 children (on occasions and where the management seem appropriate we can adapt to 1 adult to 5 children.)
  • at least one member of staff holds a full and relevant level 3 qualification; and
  • at least half of all other staff hold a full and relevant level 2 qualification.
  • We will ensure that any managers appointed on or after 4 January 2024 hold a level 2 maths qualification, or they achieve one within 2 years of starting in the position
• Children aged three years and over: 1 adult : 8 children (unless there is a higher level of qualification):
• at least one member of staff holds a full and relevant level 3 qualification; and
• at least half of all other staff hold a full and relevant level 2 qualification.
• We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements where a Qualified Teacher, Early Years Professional or other suitable level 6 qualified person is working directlywith children aged three and over as follows:
• there is at least one member of staff for every 13 children; and
• at least one other member of staff holds a full and relevant level 3 qualification.
• The number of children for each key person takes into account the individual needs of the children and the capacity of the individual key person to manage their cohort.
• level 3 practitioners in group and school-based settings will no longer be required to hold a level 2 maths qualification to count within staff: child ratios
• students and apprentices can count in staff: child ratios at the level below their level of study, if the manager is satisfied that they are competent and responsible.
• A minimum of two staff/adults are on duty at any one time; one of whom is a senior member of staff.
• Senior staff deploy our staff, students and volunteers to give adequate supervision of indoor and outdoor areas, ensuring that children are usually within sight and hearing of staff, and always within sight or hearing of staff at all times.
• All staff are deployed according to the needs of the setting and the children attending.
• Our staff, students and volunteers inform their colleagues if they have to leave their area and tell colleagues where they are going.
• Our staff, students and volunteers focus their attention on children at all times and do not spend time in social conversation with colleagues while they are working with children.
• We assign each child a key person and a second key person to help the child become familiar with the setting from the outset and to ensure that each child has a named member of staff with whom to form a relationship. The key person plans with parents for the child’s well-being and development in the setting. The key person meets regularly with the family for discussion and consultation on their child’s progress and offers support in guiding their development at home.
• We hold regular staff meetings to discuss children’s progress, their achievements and any difficulties that may arise from time to time.