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.
This page explains why changes to the EYFS safeguarding requirements will be made, what you need to do and includes resources to help you communicate the changes.
Why the changes will be made
The Department for Education (DfE) continually monitors and reviews safeguarding requirements for early years settings to ensure they are comprehensive and suitably robust to help providers keep children as safe as possible.
A consultation on proposals to strengthen the EYFS safeguarding requirements was held between 22 April and 17 June 2024, with 1470 responses received. There was strong support from respondents for all of the EYFS changes, with clear consensus that these will improve children’s safety and align with current best practice in early years settings.
The consultation showed that early years providers have excellent practices in place to keep children safe and many are already carrying out the upcoming changes in their settings. The safeguarding reforms will formalise existing best practice in the sector and ensure that all educators have the knowledge and support they need to deliver the safest, highest quality early education and childcare provision possible.
What you need to do
From 1 September 2025, all registered early years providers must follow the new EYFS framework. Whatever your role and type of setting you work in, you’ll need to be working to the new framework.
Ahead of then, make sure you understand what is changing and how this might impact your practice.
The consultation outcome can be found on the Early years Foundation Stage (EYFS) safeguarding reforms page. This sets out the new EYFS wording and will help you understand the changes you will need to make.
We have also created a Summary of EYFS changes and published a vodcast.
Communicate the changes
You can use our printable poster and information sheet to communicate the changes to your colleagues. You can download these by clicking on each of the links below.
Information sheet About the Changes PDF
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. Further information and support will be published on the Foundation Years Website. If you aren’t already registered you can sign up to receive monthly newsletters, newsflashes, information regarding events being held and vodcasts. Look out for further upcoming communications explaining the changes and supporting the sector with implementation. Help for Early Years Providers also offers guidance for people who work in early years.