Alliance welcomes announcement on Early Years Teacher Status requirements

5th August 2015

The Pre-school Learning Alliance has welcomed the news, confirmed by the Department for Education today, that practitioners who hold Early Years Teacher Status (EYTS) can count in staff ratios, whether or not they hold GCSEs at grade C or above.

Commenting on the announcement, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said:

鈥淲e warmly welcome this change, which will ensure that talented, dedicated early years practitioners who have worked hard to gain Early Years Teacher Status will not face unnecessary barriers to establishing a career within the early years sector.

鈥淚n light of other recent changes to Early Years Educator qualification requirements, it is very encouraging to see the government continuing to engage with, and actively listen to, the sector, and respond positively by making sensible changes that will help ensure the sustainability of the early years workforce in the long term.鈥

For further information or to interview, Neil Leitch, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance please contact:
Shannon Hawthorne
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7697 2503
E: Shannon Hawthorne

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Notes for editors

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is the largest voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England.
  2. Through direct provision and its membership of 14,000 nurseries, sessional pre-schools and parent and toddler groups, the Alliance supports over 800,000 children and their families in England. The Alliance also develops and runs family learning programmes, offers information and advice, runs acclaimed training and accreditation programmes and campaigns to influence early years policy and practice.
  3. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website:

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