N° EAC/17/2012
Study on the effective use of early
childhood education and care in
preventing early school leaving
Annex 4. Group size and practitioner to child
ratio in Europe
Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers
to your questions about the European Union.
Freephone number (*):
00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11
(*)
The information given is free, as are most calls (though some operators, phone
boxes or hotels may charge you).
More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu).
Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2014
ISBN 978-92-79-43951-3
doi: 10.2766/88551
© European Union, 2014
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
© European Union, 2014
This document has been prepared for the European Commission. However, it reflects the views only
of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of
the information contained therein.
The core research team:
Mr Rimantas Dumčius, Team Leader (PPMI)
Dr Jan Peeters, Key expert (VBJK)
Dr Nóirín Hayes, Key expert (DIT)
Mr Georges Van Landeghem, Key expert (KU Leuven)
Ms Hanna Siarova, Senior Researcher (PPMI)
Ms Laura Peciukonytė, Researcher (PPMI)
Ms Ivana Cenerić, Researcher (PPMI)
Dr Hester Hulpia, Researcher (VBJK)
Contributors Of Case Studies:
Other Contributors:
Dr Birgit Hartel (Austria)
Dr Hester Hulpia, Mr Georges Van
Landeghem, Dr Jan Peeters (Belgium)
Dr Fulvia Antonelli (Italy)
Dr Milda Brėdikytė (Finland)
Dr José-Ignacio Antón, Mrs María Luisa
García Rodríguez (Spain)
Prof. Dr Sven Persson (Sweden)
Dr Carol Anita Aubrey (United Kingdom)
Ms Laura Peciukonytė (Lithuania)
Dr Nina Pavlin-Bernardić (Croatia)
Dr Marie Paule Behar (France)
Prof. Dr Emil Buzov (Bulgaria), Dr Panayiota
Charamboulous (Cyprus), Prof. Dr Milada Rabušicová
(Czech Republic), Dr Zora Syslová (Czech Republic),
Prof. Dr Karen Pernille Hviid (Denmark), Ms Emilie
Østergaard
(Denmark),
Ms
Katrine
Barington
(Denmark), Dr Kristiina Tõnnisson (Estonia), Dr Mai
Beilmann (Estonia), Dr Bernhard Kalicki (Germany), Dr
Katerina Vassilikou (Greece), Dr Marta Korintus
(Hungary), Dr Arianna Lazzari (Italy), Dr Iveta Reinholde
(Latvia), Dr Daiva Kairienė (Lithuania), Dr Aigul Alieva
(Luxembourg), Ms Nadica Janeva (Macedonia), Dr
Valerie
Sollars
(Malta),
Ms
Wilma
Henderikse
(Netherlands), Prof. Dr Thomas Moser (Norway), Ms Kari
Jacobsen (Norway), Dr Dorota Szelewa (Poland), Dr
Maria Da Assunção Folque (Portugal), Mr Octav
Marcovici (Romania), Dr Daniel Gerbery (Slovakia), Prof.
Dr Ljubica Marjanovič Umek (Slovenia), Dr Urška
Fekonja Peklaj (Slovenia), Dr Elisabetta Pagnossin
(Switzerland), Dr Sibel Sonmez (Turkey)
Acknowledgements:
The team responsible for this report would like to thank all the interviewees, experts and the officials
in the European Commission, Member State organisations and stakeholders who contributed their
time, expertise and assistance to us during the research and writing of this report.
Contractor:
Public Policy and Management Institute
Gedimino avenue 50, LT-01110 Vilnius, Lithuania
Tel. +370 5 262 0338 ; Fax. +370 5 262 5410
http://www.ppmi.lt
Director Mr Haroldas Brožaitis
September 2014
2
Group size and practitioner to child ratio in ECEC in various European
countries
Country
AT
Group size
Prescribed by law
Varies in Länders. For crèches
this varies between 11 and 14
children, for kindergartens it is
about 20.
Actual
In 2012, overall
group
size:
18.68 (crèche:
13.02;
kindergarten:
18.96;
age
heterogeneous
groups: 20.07)
Carer/ educator to child ratio
Prescribed by law
Actual
Varies in Länders:
8-15 children for 1 pedagogue
and 1 assistant in crèches,
20-25
children
for
1
pedagogue and 1 assistant in
kindergarten
No data
In Flemish community, ratio
for ECEC services for 0-3 year
olds:

Family day care: 4:1
in full-time care (up to
8 children part time);

infant-toddle centre:
1:7 (depending on the
age
of
children)
centre-based
day
care: 6.5:1; The ratio
for ECEC services for
older children (2.5-6)
is not regulated.
BE
Not prescribed by law.
94% of the preprimary schools
have
classes
with
approximately
24 pupils (or
less).
(Agodi,
2011).
In French community, ratio
for ECEC services for 0-3 year
olds:

1 professional for 7
children
in
infanttoddler
centres
(depending on the age
of the child);

1:4 in family day care
No data
The average child to teacher
ratio
in
fundamental
education (2.5 – 11 years) is
between 14 and 15.
The ratio for ECEC services for
older children (2.5-6) is not
regulated.
In
French
community the average child
to
teacher
ratio
in
fundamental education (2.5 –
11 years) is between 14 and
15.
BG
Minimum number of children in
the Crèche - 8, maximum – 18
Minimum number of children in
the preschool - 12, maximum 22
No data
No data
No data
September 2014
3
Country
CY
CH
CZ
Group size
Prescribed by law
The maximum class size for all
classes,
irrespective
of
the
children’s age, is 25. The
minimum number of children in
each class is 10. Kindergartens
located in a particularly remote
location may operate with fewer
children upon a decision of the
Council of Ministers.
No data
Group size prescribed by the law
is 24 children, but it can go up to
28
Not prescribed by law.
DK
Actual
No data
16.8 in 2011/12
(but
depends
from cantons)
The
average
number
of
children
per
class
in
the
school
year
2011/12
was
23.7
In creche: 11.8
children
in
2010.
In kindergarten
is 19 children in
2010.
Carer/ educator to child ratio
Prescribed by law
Actual
The maximum number
children per teacher is 25
of
Varies in cantons.
Canton Geneva :
1 adult for 4 childen aged less
than 12 months
1 adult for 5 children aged 12
to 24 months
1 adult for 8 children aged 2
to 3 years
1 adult for 10 chidren aged 3
to 4 years
Canton Neuchâtel :
1 adult for 5 children aged 0
to 2 years
1 adult for8 children aged 2 to
4 years
1 adult for 12 children aged 4
to 6 years
For pre-school :
Maximal legal ratio (when
officially defined) is between
20 and 26 children, depending
on cantons
Not prescribed by law
Not prescribed by law.
No data
No data
The
average
number
of
children
per
teacher
in
2011/12
was
12.8.
In crèches the
average
ECEC
teacher-staff
ratio was 1:6.3
in 2011.
In
kindergartens
the
average
ECEC teacherstaff ratio was
1:11, 6 in 2011.
September 2014
4
Country
Group size
Prescribed by law
Actual
Carer/ educator to child ratio
Prescribed by law
Actual
EE
The maximum size of a crèche
group is 14 children, of a
kindergarten group – 20 children
and of a mixed group – 18
children. Also groups are smaller
if there are special needs
children.
The number of children in a
group for children with special
needs is smaller: up to 12
children in a group for children
with physical disabilities; up to
12 children in remedial group for
children with speech disorders
and
specific
development
disorders; up to 7 children in a
development group for children
with intellectual disabilities; up to
10 children in a group for
children with sensory disabilities,
up to 4 children in a group for
children with multiple disabilities
and 4 children in a group for
children
with
a
pervasive
disability disorder (autism).
No data
1:12
FI
In family day care, the maximum
group is 4 full-day children, plus
1 half day child. In child care
centres, there are no group size
requirements.
In
pre-school
education, the recommended
maximum group size is 20
children. If the group exceeds
13, the teacher needs an
assistant.
No data
0-3 years - 4:1
3-6 year olds - 1:7
The prescribed
by law ratio is
followed
FR
Not prescribed by law.
Number
of
students varies
from 20 to 27
pupils per class
(IGEN-IGAENR
report, 2011)
Not prescribed by law.
No data
FYR
0-1 year- 6-8 children
12-18 months 8-10 children
18 -24 months 10-12 children
2-3 years 12-15 children
3-4 years 15-18 children
4-5 years 18-20 children
5-6 years 20-25 children
In groups 12-18 months and 1824 months there can be one child
with mental difficulties, which
reduces number of children by
two.
Not prescribed by law.
1: 23,
2012
No
data
is
available, but in
most
municipalities
the
teacher/child
ratio
is
maximum that
is allowed (12
children for one
teacher/carer)
or at least close
to
this
maximum.
22 (but vary
from district to
district)
September 2014
5
37
in
Country
DE
Group size
Prescribed by law
No data
Actual
Group size also
varies with type
of setting, age
of children and
region.
For
children
3-6
years it varies
between 15 and
25
children
being higher in
the East and
lower
in
the
West
of
Germany;
for
children
0-3
years between
8
and
12
children
(BMFSFJ:
Zahlenspiegel
2007).
EL
A crèche group can contain 12
children. Nurseries (for children
aged 2.5-6) cannot exceed a
maximum of 25 children.
HR
For children aged from 6 to 12
months: 5 children
13 to 18 months of age: 8
children
19 to 24 months: 12 children
3 years of age: 14
4 years of age: 18
5 years: 20
6 years: 23
Actual
group
sizes are larger
due
to
low
finances,
but
exact data is
missing
10-36 for óvoda
(0-3),
most
children
in
groups of 21-25
and 26-30
HU
One nursery group consists of a
maximum of 12 children. If all
the children are over 2, a
maximum of 14 children may be
cared for in one group. If the
nursery group also includes a
disabled child, maximum 10
children can attend it, while in
the nursery group caring for
disabled
children
the
max.
number of the children to be
developed and cared for is 6.
The maximum group size in
kindergarten is 25.
No data
Carer/ educator to child ratio
Prescribed by law
Actual
For children 3-6
years it varies
between 15 and
25
children
being higher in
the East and
lower
in
the
West
of
Germany;
for
children
0-3
years between
8
and
12
children
No data
Pre-primary schools can be
single-teacher or two-teacher
schools. The former number
7-25 children, while the latter
26-50 children.
Ratio is not prescribed, there
is only number of children in
different age groups.
1 TO 6/7 in bölcsőde (for
children 0-3 year olds)
1 to 12 in óvoda (for
children3-6 year olds)
No data
1:12.96 in 2010
for 2011, 5.4:1
for bölcsőde (03)
23.4:1
for
óvoda (3-6) (in
2011/2012)
September 2014
6
Country
IE
Group size
Prescribed by law
Pre-school services in drop-in
centres contain groups of at
most 24 children.
Actual
No data
Carer/ educator to child ratio
Prescribed by law
Actual
Children 0-3 years: depends
on type of service and age of
child.
Services for children 0-1 year
old – maximum number of
children is 3 per 1 adult;
Services for children 1-2.5
years – maximum number of
children is 5 per 1 adult;
Services for children [fulltime] 2 - 3 years – maximum
number of children is 6 per 1
adult;
No data
In relation to older children in
Ireland the situation depends
on where the child is. For 3
year olds the ratio can be 1:710. However, for 4-6 year
olds it can vary from 1:11 28 [the higher figure referring
to 4-6 year olds in primary
school. Over half Irish 4 year
olds and almost all 5 year olds
attend primary school.]
IT
From 18 to 25 (3-6 year olds)
No data
The children/educators ratio is
established at regional level
for nurseries (<3), and for
pre-primary schools (3-5).
Usually the established ratio
in services for 0-3 olds is
modified
according
to
children’s age group, ranging
from 4:1 for 0-1 years old to
10:1 for 2-3 years old.
For children aged 3-6 the
number of pupils per teacher
section
varies
from
a
minimum of 18 to a maximum
of 25 if half-session (only
morning)
classes
are
operated.
Exceptionally there can be
groups of 28 children per 2
teachers if scuola dell’infanzia
operates on full-day session
(morning and afternoon).
LV
Not prescribed by law.
No data
Not prescribed by law.
1: 11.8 in 2012
1:8.3 in 2011
September 2014
7
Country
LT
Group size
Prescribed by law
up to 1 year old – maximum 6
children;
1 – 1.5 years – maximum 10
children;
1.5 – 3 years– maximum 15
children;
3-6 years – maximum 20
children.
Mixed age groups (children from
birth to three years) may contain
no more than eight children.
LUX
0-<2 – 6 children maximum 12
children in group;
2-4 – 8 children maximum 15
children in group;
5-6 – 11 maximum 15 children in
group;
For children in category 3-4
years
old
communes
are
recommended to have maximum
20 children in group.
MNE
For children up to 2 years of age
– 12 children per group;
for children from 2 to 3 years of
age – 14;
for children from 3 to 4 years of
age – 20;
for children from 4 to 5 years –
24;
for children from 5 to 6 years –
25 children per group.
For mixed-age groups, norms for
children up to 3 years of age are
10 children per group and for
children from 3 to 6 years of
age, 20 per group.
MT
No data
Actual
The
average
group size in
kindergartens in
Lithuania
–
18.05, in the
cities – 18.6
and in the rural
areas – 14.5.
(in 2011)
No data
Carer/ educator to child ratio
Prescribed by law
Actual
A group of children from birth
to one year old must have at
least two educators working
together and a group of
children from 1 to 7 years old
must have at least two
employees, including at least
one pedagogue (a pre-school
educator or pre-primary class
educator).
for under 2 years - 1:6
2-4 olds- 1:8
3-4 olds - 1:10.
No data
No data
Not prescribed by law.
30.6 in 2009/10
No data
The
Law
on
preschool
education and care does not
state
teacher-child
ratio
explicitly. It says that with the
children in each nursery group
should
work
nurse
and
teacher (carer), and with each
group of children from 3 to 6
years two teachers (carers)
should work.
The National Standards for
Child
Day-care
Facilities
recommends the following
carer to child ratios: one
trained child carer for up to
three babies under the age of
12 months; one child carer
per
five
children
aged
between 13 and 24 months
and up to six children aged
between 25 to 36 months
under the supervision of one
child
carer.
It
is
also
recommended that up to six
children in a group of different
ages
to
be
under
the
supervision of one carer.
1:
16.8
2012/13
No data
September 2014
8
in
Country
NL
NO
PL
Group size
Prescribed by law
Actual
Carer/ educator to child ratio
Prescribed by law
Actual
The
maximum
number
of
children in a group at the same
time is:

for children under 12
months: no more than
12 children per group;

for children up to 4
years: no more than 16
children per group, of
whom no more than 8
may
be
under
12
months.
In day nurseries or out-of-school
care at a childcare centre, the
maximum permitted number of
children
per
qualified
staff
member is as follows:

four children under 12
months; or

five children aged 1 to 2;
or

six children aged 2 to 3;
or

eight children aged 3 to 4
No data
The ratio ranges from 1:4 for
0 year olds to 1:8 for 3 to 4
year olds.
No data
Not prescribed by law.
In
2011
on
average
the
group size of
mixed-age
kindergarten
groups
was
17.6
children,
for kindergarten
groups of small
children (zero to
two years) 12.4
and of older
children
18.7
children.
The norm is one qualified
kindergarten teacher per 1418 children over the age of
three, and one qualified
kindergarten teacher per 7-9
children under the age of
three.
1:4,9 (2013)
No data
The maximum number of
children supervised by one
person in crèches and kids
clubs is 8. The number is
reduced to 5 in cases where
groups include a SEN child, a
child requiring special care or
a child under one year of age.
1:16,97 in 2012
For children over 2-3 years the
number of children in one
class/group cannot exceed 25.
The number of children ranges
from 15 to 20, including 3-5
disabled children, in integration
nursery schools and classes, and
between 6 and 16 in special
nursery schools or pre-school
classes, depending on the type of
disability. Classes in pre-school
units and centres are provided in
groups of 3 to 25 children.
For 3-6 olds it is not regulated
September 2014
9
Country
Group size
Prescribed by law
In creches (0-3):
10 children with two carers in the
first year;
14 children between 12 and 24
months with a pre-school teacher
and a carer;
18 children between 24 and 36
months with a pre-school teacher
and a carer.
PT
In pre-primary education (3<),
classes are constituted by a
minimum of 20 and a maximum
of 25 children, although in the
case of a homogenous group of
children aged 3 years old, the
number of children entrusted to
each educator cannot be higher
than 15.
RO
SK
Infant (lower group): 7
Children of 1 – 2 years old
(middle group): 9
Children of 2 – 3 years old
(upper group): 9

maximum 20 children
per class for children
aged 3 to 4 years

maximum 21 children
per class for children
aged 4 to 5 years

maximum 22 children
per class for children
aged 5 to 6 years

maximum 21 children
per class for children
aged 3 to 6 years
Actual
Carer/ educator to child ratio
Prescribed by law
Actual
Data
from
2011- in state
pre-schools:
14.7; in private
pre-schools:
17.1
10 children with two carers in
the first year; 14 children
between 12 and 24 months
with a pre-school teacher and
a carer; 18 children between
24 and 36 months with a preschool teacher and a career.
Another carer to ensure long
hours opening.
1:
15,56
2010
No data
Infant (lower group): ¼
Children of 1 – 2 years old
(middle group): 1/5
Children of 2 – 3 years old
(upper group): 1/6
1: 18 in (1:17
in urban area
and
1:20
in
rural area) in
2010-2011
Not prescribed by law.
1:10.6 in 2010
20.9 in 2010
When
increasing
maximum
number of children in the class,
presence of children aged less
than three years can be taken
into account. If separate class for
children aged less than three
years is established, the number
of the children can range from 5
(minimum) to 10 (maximum). If
there is more than 10 children
aged less than 3 years in class,
education and care is promoted
by three teachers (alternately).
September 2014
10
in
Country
SI
SRB
Group size
Prescribed by law
By law, the number of children in
a first age group shall not exceed
14 and in a second age group 24
children. Detailed standards on
numbers of children are specified
by the Rules on the norms and
personnel requirements for the
performance
of
pre-school
education activity (in Slovene)
which are issued by the minister
of education. They specify as
follows:

In a first age group,
there must be no less
than nine and no more
than fourteen children if
children in the group are
of the same age (no
more than one year
difference in age);

In a first age group there
should be no less than
seven and no more than
ten children if children’s
ages vary (from one year
to three years);

In a homogenous group
with three- and fouryear-olds, there should
be no less than twelve
and no more than 17
children;

In a homogenous group
of four-to-five-year-olds
or five-to-six-year old
children, there should be
no less than 17 and no
more than 24 children;

In a group of varied ages
on the second age level
(children between three
and six), there should be
no less than 14 and no
more than 19 children;

In a combined group
including children from
both age levels (from one
to six), there should be
no less than ten and no
more than 17 children.
0.6-1 years 7 to 9 children
1-2 years 12 children
2-3 years 16 children
3-4 years 20 children
4 years to school 24 children
Actual
No data
In
2012/13:
Total
20.1
For 0-3 olds:
17.2
For 3 year olds
and older ones:
20.8
Carer/ educator to child ratio
Prescribed by law
Actual
The child-to-teacher ratio in
the first age level (Level one:
children aged between one
(eleven months) and three
years) is 7 children per adult
person in the period when
they are both present, and in
the second age level (Level
two: children aged between
three and six or the age when
they start school) it is 12
children per adult.
No data
Not prescribed by law.
In
2012/13:
Total - 1:11.6
For 0-3 olds:
8.1
For 3 year olds
and older ones:
12.7
September 2014
11
Country
SE
Group size
Prescribed by law
For children under 1 year of age,
most
of
the
Autonomous
Communities
establish
a
maximum of 8 children per unit;
for children between 1 and 2
years of age, the number of
pupils ranges between 12 and
14; and for children between 2
and 3 years of age, ratios vary
between 16 and 20 children per
unit.
Not prescribed by law.
UK
30 for reception-aged children
ES
Actual
Year
2011:
Average: 19.1.
First
cycle:
13.4.
Second
cycle:
21.7.
16.8 in 2011
No data
Carer/ educator to child ratio
Prescribed by law
Actual
25 pupils per "qualified adult".
1:13 in 2012
Not prescribed by law.
under 2 years – 1:3;
for 2 years – 1:4
for 3-6 year olds – 1:13

Maximum 10 children
in the age group of 03
(0-36
monthschildren)
should
constitute one group
and
a
care-taker
should
be
commissioned
for
each group.
1:5,3 in 2011

TK
The number of children in a
group should not be less than 10
and not more than 20. In case
the number of children is more
than 20, a second group shall be
formed if this new group reaches
20. In single nursery classes and
implementation classrooms, the
number of children can be 25 by
taking into consideration of
classroom
physical
capacity.
For an effective and qualified
education, the number children
being admitted to each nursery
class should not exceed 25.
No data

Maximum 20 children
in the age group of 45
(37-60
monthschildren)
should
constitute one group
and a care-taker and
a
staff
with
the
qualifications
of
a
child
development
specialist or educator
should
be
commissioned
for
each group.
No data
No data
Maximum 20 children
in the age group of 6
(61-72
monthschildren)
should
constitute one group
and a care-taker and
a
staff
with
the
qualifications
of
a
child
development
specialist or educator
should
be
commissioned
for
each group.
Source: PPMI (policy mapping and case study reports)
September 2014
12
Numéro de catalogue: NC-04-14-353-EN-N
doi:10.2766/88551
ISBN: 978-92-79-43951-3