What is Staff-to-Child Ratio?

Staff-to-child ratios define the minimum number of adults required to safely supervise a given number of children. These ratios vary depending on the age of the children, the type of activity, the environment (indoor vs outdoor, water vs land), and whether the provision is Ofsted-registered. Getting ratios right is fundamental to both safety and compliance.

For Ofsted-registered settings, the EYFS sets specific ratios: 1:3 for children under two, 1:4 for two-year-olds, and 1:8 for children aged three and above (with at least one Level 3 qualified member of staff). For non-registered activity sessions, governing bodies provide guidance — for example, Swim England recommends a maximum of 12 swimmers per qualified teacher in a standard pool lesson (reducing for younger or less able swimmers), while British Gymnastics sets ratio guidelines based on apparatus type and gymnast competence level.

Ratios are minimums, not targets. Your risk assessment may determine that higher ratios are needed based on the complexity of the activity, the venue, or the needs of particular children (a child with additional needs may require one-to-one support). When calculating ratios, count only qualified, DBS-checked adults who are actively supervising — do not include parents watching from a gallery, or staff who are occupied with administrative tasks.