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If you work in early years, keeping up with EYFS updates is part of the job. The Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework sets the legal standards every registered early years provider in England must meet, covering everything from how children learn and develop to safeguarding procedures and staff qualifications.
The most significant update in recent years came into force on 1 September 2025, following a government safeguarding consultation in 2024. With those changes now in full effect, early 2026 is an important moment for settings to review their policies, check their training records, and make sure their teams are across what has changed.
This article walks through what is new, what it means for practitioners and managers, and what steps you can take to stay compliant and inspection-ready.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework is mandatory guidance issued by the Department for Education. It applies to all registered early years providers in England, including nurseries, pre-schools, childminders, and school-based settings. It sets the standards that must be met to ensure children from birth to the end of Reception year are learning well, staying healthy, and being kept safe.
The framework is divided into three main sections: learning and development requirements, assessment, and safeguarding and welfare. The September 2025 update focused primarily on Section 3, strengthening the safeguarding requirements that apply across all settings.
One other change worth noting: since January 2024, there have been two separate EYFS framework documents, one for childminders and one for group and school-based providers. Both were updated in September 2025. If you are a childminder, make sure you are referencing the correct version for your registration type.
While the statutory updates came into force in September 2025, 2026 is the first full year when inspectors will expect them to be fully implemented. Settings need to show evidence that safeguarding, training, and policies are embedded in day-to-day practice.
The learning and development requirements and Early Learning Goals have not changed. The biggest shifts are in safeguarding and welfare, including the formalisation of the Designated Safeguarding Lead role, mandatory two-yearly safeguarding training, safer recruitment, child absence follow-ups, updated device policies, and safer eating guidance.
A helpful question to ask your team right now is:
If Ofsted visited next week, could we confidently demonstrate that we meet the September 2025 EYFS requirements?
If the answer feels uncertain, now is the time to review.
The learning and development requirements and the Early Learning Goals (ELGs) remain the same, so settings can continue with their existing assessment processes.
What has changed substantially is the safeguarding and welfare section. The updates bring early years more in line with safeguarding language and expectations already used in schools and raise the bar on what settings need to evidence during an Ofsted inspection.
The key changes cover six areas: the Designated Safeguarding Lead role, safer recruitment, safeguarding training requirements, child absence procedures, safer eating guidance, and device policies. Each of these is covered in detail below.
For those working directly with children, the biggest impact is on safeguarding. Practitioners need to understand their responsibilities, know their setting’s Designated Safeguarding Lead, and show how training shapes daily practice.
A good starting point to explore the guidance behind each change is the DfE Help for Early Years Providers hub, which maps updates to practical steps in your setting.
Safeguarding training renewal every two years. All practitioners must now renew safeguarding training at least once every two years. Settings must document not only that training has taken place, but how practitioners are supported to apply it in practice. A training log alone is no longer sufficient.
Whistleblowing obligations extended. Volunteers and apprentices are now explicitly included under whistleblowing policy. If your setting supports student placements, make sure this is included in induction.
Child absence follow-up. Settings must now follow up when a child is absent for a prolonged or unexplained period. Additional emergency contact details should be collected and securely stored for every child.
Safer eating records. Settings are required to hold information about each child’s stage with solid foods, and to keep records of any choking incidents. This formalises mealtime risk management as a safeguarding responsibility.
Privacy during personal care. Guidance on maintaining children’s privacy during nappy changing is now statutory. Many settings were already doing this as best practice, but it is now a requirement.
Device policies broadened. Safeguarding policies must cover all electronic devices capable of capturing or sharing images, not just mobile phones. Tablets, cameras, and any other imaging devices need to be included. For example, make sure tablets used for storytime are in a secure cabinet and only used under supervision.
The updated framework places the most significant administrative and procedural responsibilities on nursery managers and setting leaders.
The Designated Safeguarding Lead role is now formalised. The “lead practitioner” is now the formal DSL. Responsibilities must be clearly documented, and the DSL should be given the time, resources, and training to carry out the role effectively.
Safer recruitment must be written into policy. Your safeguarding policy must describe how you ensure only suitable people are recruited. References must be obtained before staff start, not after.
Training evidence requirements have increased. Managers need to show how safeguarding training is embedded in practice, not just logged. Supervision notes or reflection sessions may form part of this evidence.
Policies need to reflect the current framework. If your safeguarding, recruitment, or child absence policies still reference the 2021 or earlier framework, they are out of date. Inspectors will check, so updating these documents should be treated as a priority.
For sector context and policy analysis behind these changes, Early Education publishes detailed briefings that are particularly useful for managers who want to understand the intent behind framework decisions, not just the changes themselves.
The EYFS changes also tie closely to workforce qualifications.
Updated Level 3 EYE criteria. The revised criteria separate knowledge (“learn that”) from skills (“learn how to”) and align with the EYFS statutory framework and Development Matters guidance. Qualification providers must teach to the current policy.
A new safeguarding training annex. Annex C sets out what statutory safeguarding training should cover. Check any in-house or external training against this.
Growing demand for Level 3 qualifications. Staffing ratio updates mean more Level 3 EYE qualifications and apprenticeships are needed.
If you are considering enrolling a team member on a Level 3 Early Years Educator Diploma, confirm the programme is fully updated to reflect the September 2025 framework and criteria. For guidance on starting a career in early years, see our article how to become an early years educator in UK.
Update policy to reflect the September 2025 framework
Formally appoint your DSL with clearly written responsibilities
Review and update child absence procedures
Audit all safeguarding training and schedule renewals within a two-year cycle
Document how training is applied in practice
Check content against Annex C
Collect and securely store additional emergency contacts
Update device policy to cover all imaging-capable electronics
Keep safer eating records and logs of any choking incidents
Include whistleblowing obligations for volunteers and apprentices
Confirm all Level 3 EYE qualifications reflect the updated framework
At LCC, our Level 3 Early Years Educator Diploma is aligned with the current EYFS framework, including September 2025 updates. Learners study safeguarding in context, covering DSL responsibilities, safer recruitment, and Annex C. The programme follows the updated knowledge and skills format, ensuring graduates can apply what they learn in real settings.
For managers, this means team members completing the diploma are ready to work to current standards from day one, understand EYFS language, and contribute to your compliance processes immediately.
Flexible study options and sector-experienced tutors make it easy for practitioners to learn while working.
The biggest changes focus on safeguarding and welfare, including formal DSL roles, mandatory two-yearly safeguarding training with evidence of application, safer recruitment, child absence follow-ups, updated device policies, and safer eating guidance. Learning and development requirements and Early Learning Goals remain unchanged.
Yes. Policies must reference the live statutory framework. Outdated policies are a compliance gap.
Yes. The DfE has updated criteria to align with the current framework and Development Matters. Ensure staff courses reflect these changes.
Since January 2024, there are two separate statutory documents, both updated in September 2025. Childminders should use the correct version for their registration.
No. The 17 Early Learning Goals introduced in 2021 remain the same.
The EYFS statutory framework sets the standards all registered early years providers in England must follow to ensure children learn, develop, and stay safe from birth to the end of Reception.
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