Career Progression

Experience-based route for counting in the staff:child ratios at Level 3

The experience-based route is a way for experienced early years practitioners who do not have a full and relevant level 3 qualification to be able to count in the staff:child ratios at level 3.

The experience-based route has been introduced as the Department for Education (DfE) knows that there are lots of skilled and talented people working in the early years sector who do not hold a full and relevant recognised qualification. It's a way to recognise that people with the right level of experience and knowledge can offer a great deal to the education and care of young children.

Visit DfE's website for information including eligibility requirements, assessment criteria, the supervised practice period and examples which set the experience-based route out in more detail.

Qualifications, Training Providers and Role Profiles

Our Early Years and Childcare Careers webpage gives advice and guidance on qualifications, career progression, training providers and lots more.