Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on consulting on allowing people with Early Years Teacher Status and Early Years Professional Status to lead nursery and reception classes in maintained schools.

The Early Years Workforce Strategy published in March this year, sets out the actions we will take to attract, retain and develop the early years workforce. This included committing to consult on allowing those with Early Years Teacher Status and its predecessor Early Years Professional Status to lead nursery and reception classes in maintained schools.

A consultation on this issue has been conducted in line with the statutory requirements for making amends to these regulations, which the Department has done.

The Government will respond in due course.