Changes to the EYFS framework from 1 September 2025
The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework is mandatory for all early years settings. It sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well, and are kept healthy and safe.
There are two versions of the EYFS framework for:
- childminders
- group and school-based providers
Contents on this page
Changes from 1 September 2025
Strengthened safeguarding requirements
Following the early years safeguarding consultation in 2024, the strengthened safeguarding requirements introduce:
- amendments to promote safer recruitment, including:
- new expectations to provide references
- requirements to obtain references
- a requirement for safeguarding policies to include procedures to help ensure that only suitable individuals are recruited
- new requirements for providers to follow up if a child is absent for a prolonged period of time, and amendments to ensure providers hold additional emergency contact details
- new requirements to ensure safer eating
- the creation of a safeguarding training criteria annex and a requirement for safeguarding policies to include details of how safeguarding training is delivered, including how practitioners are supported to put it into place
- amendments to ensure that early years students and trainees are required to have paediatric first aid (PFA) training for them to be included in ratios at the level below their level of study
- new requirements to support whistleblowing
- amendments to ensure that children’s privacy during nappy changing and toileting is considered and balanced with safeguarding considerations
- a small number of other minor changes to the structure and wording of the safeguarding requirements to improve clarity
New nutrition guidance
New nutrition guidance has been developed with nutrition and sector experts. Providers must take this into account and should follow it unless there is a good reason not to.
Experience-Based Route (EBR)
The changes allow staff who have successfully been through EBR to be included in staff:child ratios at level 3 should they meet other requirements.
Reception Baseline Assessment
Annex B of the group and school-based providers framework has been updated to reflect the additional digital elements that will be introduced for academic year 2025/26 onwards.
The Early Years Qualifications Requirements and Standards document will also be updated from 1st September 2025 with minor clarifications.
Find further support
You may also find it helpful to contact your local authority or support groups to find out what advice they can offer on the changes.