Early years foundation stage framework updates
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RESOURCES |
December 2023
The Department for Education has published an updated version of the EYFS, which will be in effect from 4 January 2024 and is updated to reflect the below changes announced in October 2023 including level 2 qualification changes . The framework has also been published in two difference versions, one version for childminders and another for group and school-based providers.
October 2023
The Department for Education has published its official response to the recent consultation on changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework. Within this the government has confirmed that it will be proceeding with plans to create two versions of the EYFS framework: one with childminder-relevant content and one with group and school-based provider-relevant content.
The proposed changes that will be going ahead include: Removing the requirement for level 3 educators to hold a level 2 (GCSE or equivalent) maths qualification, and instead applying this requirement to setting managers. This change will only apply to new managers or managers who move to a new role after these changes are implemented. Setting managers employed on or after 4 January 2024 must hold a level 2 maths qualification, or they must achieve one within two years of starting in the position. For managers already in post, and remain in the same post, there will be no action to take; Changing the requirement around how providers support children with English as an Additional Language to develop their home language from 鈥渕ust鈥 to 鈥渕ay"; Allowing suitable students on long-term placements and apprentices to be included in the ratios at the level below their level of study, only if their manager is satisfied that they are sufficiently competent and responsible; Remove the requirement for childminders to complete EYFS training before registration and instead continue to require EYFS knowledge and understanding; Allowing childminders' assistant(s) to act as the key person; and allow 鈥榢itchens鈥 to be considered within floor space requirements in childminding settings.
The DfE also confirmed that the following changes will also be going ahead, but at a later date which is yet to be confirmed:
The following changes will also be going ahead but at a later date (yet to be confirmed): introducing an 鈥榚xperience-based route鈥 for educators to gain approved status to work within staff:child ratios, so that "otherwise suitable educators who don鈥檛 hold an approved level 3 qualification have a path to gaining 鈥榓pproved status鈥 without having to do a new qualification". This would allow educators to count within the level 3 ratio but would not give them a formal qualification; Clarifying the wording in the EYFS to reflect the Department鈥檚 policy that only those with Qualified Teacher Status, Early Years Teacher Status and Early Years Professional Status can operate in level 6 staff-child ratios.
The government has confirmed that it will not be proceeding with reducing the percentage of level 2 qualified staff required per ratio for children of all ages from 鈥榓t least half鈥 to either 30% or 40% where applicable and changing the qualification requirements for ratios so that they would not apply outside of peak working hours.
The consultation response document is available .
March 2023
As part of the 2023 Budget, the government confirmed that adult:child ratios for group-based early years settings will increase from 1:4 to 1:5 for two-year-olds, following last year's consultation. It also confirmed changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework to be explicit that childminders can care for more than the specified maximum of three children under the age of five if they are caring for siblings of children they already care for, or if the childminders is caring for their own baby or child.
The EYFS will also be amended to state that 'adequate supervision' while children are eating means that children must be in sight and hearing of an adult.
The consultation's findings was also published shortly after the Budget was announced.
Read: and
July 2022
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced that changes to the Nursery Milk Scheme will come into force in 2023. Settings who are part of the scheme will be required to: upload a redacted copy of their attendance registers onto their Nursery Milk account, showing the date, child name (crossed out for confidentiality), date of birth, and hours of attendance; and note any child who was unexpectedly absent (generally due to sickness) but for who milk was ordered.
The changes were initially due to come into place in August 2022 but it has been delayed to next year. A date has not yet been confirmed but the department says that it is developing a 鈥減ackage of guidance and support tools鈥 to help providers meet the requirements.
July 2022
The document also includes proposals which aims to increase the number of childminders operating in England which include: Reducing the upfront costs of becoming a childminder via financial support; allowing childminders to spend more of their time working from a greater range of locations such as a local community centre or village hall rather than their own home; giving childminders greater flexibilities within the ratios when looking after their own children or siblings or other children; working with 新澳门六合彩官网开奖 to reduce inspection of childminders; and slimming down the childminder specific Early Years Foundation Stage, reducing the framework by one-third to ensure content is targeted and simpler to navigate.
The consultation ran from 4 July 2022 to 16 September 2022.
May 2022
The Department for Education has published 鈥楶rogress Check at Age Two鈥, guidance for early years practitioners working with children aged between two and three. The government said the guidance will help early years practitioners to: review a child鈥檚 progress and development in the three pirime areas of learning and development in the EYFS Framework; identify any areas of concern or additional development needs; work with parents and other professionals to put in place support and intervention.
April 2022
The Department for Education has published its strategy for sustainability and climate change for the education and children鈥檚 services systems. As part of the strategy, the government has pledged greater support for teaching climate change at all levels.
February 2022
The UK鈥檚 Chief Medical Officers have released its first ever guidance on physical activity for children and young people with disabilities, aiming to improve their physical and mental health.
The guidelines recommend that disabled children get a total of 120 to 180 minutes of aerobic exercise a week.
September 2021
The Department for Education published the updated Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework for 2021.
The statutory framework applies from 1 September 2021.
Read it here:
Or you can .
July 2021
Revised version of Development Matters
On 20 July 2021, the DfE published a revised version of , government鈥檚 non-statutory curriculum guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
These minor changes include:
- updated links, making minor tweaks to wording for clarification purposes,
- updates to the Introduction and Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning sections to ensure the wording is aligned with the aims of the reforms and reflects the most recent research and evidence and,
- ensuring the document is accessible, inclusive, and easier to navigate which includes a new design, layout and colour coding.
No major changes have been made to the curriculum guidance under the seven areas of learning.
March 2021
Birth to 5 Matters
The launches the new following six months of consultation and input from across the early years sector.
The new non-statutory guidance outlines the foundations of good practice and offers information and guidance for practitioners to consider how the Principles of the EYFS can be brought to life in their setting, while new sections on play, characteristics of effective learning, and self-regulation are designed to help practitioners to reflect on and develop their own pedagogy.
You can.