Early years ratios

[AdventuringAway]

Can anyone help with ratios?

2 year olds are 1:4, 3/4 year olds are 1:8 (ignoring the other complicating factors available). Can you mix age groups, if you stick to the lower limit?

So if you have a group of 2 x 2yr olds and 10 x 3yr olds, do you need 2 members of staff or 3?

And if anyone can point to guidance which specifies whether this mixing is a yes or a no, that would be amazing! The official guidance doesn’t mention mixed groups at all, to my knowledge.

You have to start with the younger ages. So:
Adult 1 - 2x2yo and 2x3yo (4 max as some are 2)
Adult 2 - 8x3yo
So yes you can have 2 members of staff for that. Obviously the staff members don't have to stick with their assigned group, it is just for ratios.