In our research on achieving high-quality provision in the baby room of English nurseries, involving more than 300 baby room educators and nursery managers and reaching over 5,000 babies, we see that group size in the baby room varies significantly from one setting to the next. While some nurseries keep their baby rooms small, with 12 babies or fewer, other nurseries have a baby room containing 30 babies and 10 adults. 
Global evidence demonstrates that large group sizes in the baby room are correlated with reduced safety and poorer interactions. The reasons for this link are clear and evidence-based: when babies are in too large a group, they struggle to build deeper relationships with particular adults who know and can respond to their specific cues. They also miss out on vital speech and language experiences because of being in a noisier and more chaotic environment. Simply put, if babies could talk they would tell us they need quieter and more intimate spaces. (Sara Bonetti pictured left)
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