New consultation on early years floor space requirements launched by the DfE
by Jess Gibson
The Department for Education (DfE) has launched a new consultation on Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) floor space requirements.
At present, section 3 of the EYFS for both group and school-based providers, and childminders states that providers are required to meet the following indoor spaces requirements:
-
3.5m2鈥痯er child under two years
-
2.5m2鈥痯er two-year-old
-
2.3m2鈥痯er child aged between three and five years
The consultation is seeking views on whether or not 鈥榝ree-flow鈥 outdoor areas should be able to be included in floor space measurements鈥痜or children aged two years and above.
For an outdoor area to be defined as 鈥榝ree-flow鈥, doors to the outdoor area would need to always be open, with the outdoor area accessible to children at all times. Children would need to 鈥渉ave safe access in all weathers including having adequate shelter and shade" and "the area must be suitably equipped to meet the health, safety, wellbeing, learning and development needs of all children".鈥
The consultation confirms that if any changes to floor space requirements are taken forward, early years providers will still be required to meet the minimum staff-to-child ratios in the EYFS statutory frameworks.
The options presented in the consultation are:
-
Option 1: Including 鈥榝ree-flow鈥 outdoor space in the EYFS space requirements鈥痺ithout鈥痑 cap鈥痶o allow鈥痯roviders with the physical structure to meet the definition of 鈥榝ree flow鈥 outdoor space to increase the number of children in their setting.
-
Option 2: Including 鈥榝ree-flow鈥 outdoor space in the EYFS space requirements鈥痺ith鈥痑 cap鈥痶o mitigate potential risks around overcrowding.
The DfE is not proposing a specific cap level but the consultation states, for example, that "with a 10% cap, a setting with a maximum capacity of 80 children鈥 could take 8 additional children (provided that the additional useable free-flow space is large enough to meet the required space measurements for the additional number of children)".
The DfE has confirmed that the second option is their preference.
The consultation also asks respondents to share any alternative ideas on how the government might change the indoor space requirements. Respondents also have the option to state their preference for floor space requirements to remain as they are.
The consultation will run until 11 July 2025 鈥 with the government expected to provide a response in autumn 2025 鈥 and can be accessed .
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: 鈥淲hile we recognise that some settings may welcome the additional flexibility that would be created by this change, we remain concerned about the impact that such a policy could have on the quality of provision 鈥 and in particular, the risk that these reforms could result in overcrowding in some settings if the implementation, assuming these proposals go ahead, is not properly monitored.
鈥淲e鈥檙e clear that ensuring the safety and wellbeing of young children must always be at the heart of early years education and care. And yet, as we get closer to the final stage of the entitlement expansion, it appears that the need to create new places is constantly being prioritised over and above the need to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality early years provision.
鈥淩ather than an endless stream of ad hoc, short-term policies, we need a clear and comprehensive early years strategy that puts quality, and what鈥檚 best for the child, at its centre. We鈥檙e clear that if the government wants to increase capacity in the early years in the long term 鈥 in a way that doesn鈥檛 put quality at risk 鈥 then tackling the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis, and ensuring that we have enough experienced, quality staff in settings, is where policymakers should be focusing. This means committing to provide the funding the sector needs to ensure staff are paid a fair wage, both now and in the future.鈥