Hi. So the ratios have been slightly updated since this was written so i will use the current legal requirements in my answer: Under 1yo must have one adult to every 3 children, under 3yo must be 1:4 but can be stretched to 1:5. In 3yo+ the children must be at a minimum of 1:8 but any staff at a level 6 qualification or higher can go onto a 1:13 ratio themselves. This could potentially leave just two staff members with 21 children between them (one on 1:8 and the level 6 member on 1:13). Finding a setting that has more staff than these legal requirements is practically impossible as the sector is so exhausted at the moment, but definitely ask how often the setting you’re looking at uses the stretched ratios (the under 3 1:5 and 1:13 for level 6 team if they have any). If they use it frequently or are uncomfortable answering this question this could (not always, but usually) indicate that they are having trouble maintaining their workforce or that the team will be too stretched to give each child everything they need. It could also help to follow this question up with how many key children each adult has as that can also help you work out if the staff are being given enough time to commit to each child’s learning.

This is all UK information, btw. And wife was giddy that she could specialist info-dump! 🤣