GovWire

The Early Years Foundation Stage (Learning and Development and Welfare Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 were laid before Parliament on 12 July with the IA published alongside. The legalisation enables childcare providers to increase supply to align with additional demand and to increase provider flexibilities to address the long-term decline in the number of childminders.

It achieves this by reforming the statutory minimum staff-to-child ratios in early years childcare to allow providers to utilise staff more efficiently. And to change the language of the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework to give clarity and additional flexibility to childminders.

The RPC has rated the IA fit for purpose but has made suggestions for improvements. These suggestions have not been incorporated in the published IA, but the Department has stated that it will take these into consideration for future IAs.