Children's Workforce Development Council

Guidance for: Ofsted inspectors

The national standards for under 8s day care and childminding set out the requirements for registered early years providers, one of which is a requirement for staff qualifications.

The standards require that day care managers have at least a level 3 qualification appropriate to the post.

Supervisors in full day care settings are also required to hold a level 3 qualification appropriate for the care or development of children.

At least half of all other child care staff hold a level 2 qualification appropriate for the care or development of children.

For childminding settings, childminders need to complete a local authority approved childminder's pre-registration course within 6 months of starting childminding.

Ofsted registers and inspects settings against the national standards. The qualifications held by staff are one of the factors Ofsted considers in determining whether the minimum standards have been met and the overall suitability of the registered person to look after children.

The information shown against individual qualifications on further training and continuous professional development is to advise early years and playwork practitioners and their employers. This advice outlines the options for updating the skills and knowledge of practitioners. This is not compulsory, although it is good practice to undertake training that contributes to the overall quality of a setting.

Qualifications that were awarded before 1989 will be recognised by Ofsted as meeting the qualifications requirements in the national standards. However, managers and supervising staff who hold these qualifications will need to be able to demonstrate that they have the appropriate skills and ability to do their jobs in order to meet the full requirements of the national standards. They may need to undertake training to refresh and update their knowledge and practice for this purpose although there is no specific training requirement in the national standards.