DfE introduces experience-based route guidance following consultation response
by Shannon Pite
The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed the details of the new experience-based route for early educators to gain approved status to work within staff:child ratios at Level 3.
Under the plans, early years settings will be able to make assessment decisions about their staff’s knowledge, skills and experience, and will decide whether they meet the criteria to work in the ratios at Level 3.
Eligible educators will be able to start the process of accessing the experienced-based route from March 2025, though those who are successful in gaining experienced-based route status would not be able to count in Level 3 ratios until the necessary changes have been made to the EYFS, expected from September 2025.
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: "We know there are countless dedicated, skilled and experienced educators working in the sector who, despite being excellent at their jobs, are unable to progress due to a lack of formal qualifications. As such, at a time when the early years staffing crisis remains so severe, we hope the launch of the new experience-based route will encourage many more talented individuals to both join and remain in the early years.
"That said, we’re clear that working as an early educator is, and should be seen as a highly-skilled profession. It is absolutely vital, therefore, that the rollout and impact of this policy is monitored closely, and this new route does not come at the expense of the quality of provision that children receive.  
"What’s more, while this new route to counting in ratios is likely to offer some welcome respite to providers struggling in the face of the ongoing staffing crisis, this change can only ever be one small part of a much wider recruitment and retention strategy. Ultimately, if the government not only wants to attract new educators into the sector, but also ensure they stay in long term, it needs to ensure that those working in the sector get the respect – and, crucially, the pay – they so clearly deserve."