Foundation Years August Bulletin

DfE Updates

• Reminder - Updated EYFS frameworks come into force 1 September 2026
• DfE – Ofsted joint vodcast on safer sleep
• Working or volunteering in regulated activity with children
• Have your say: Early Years Funding Consultation
• Supporting toilet independence before school
• For action: Have your say on early years teaching reform
• Updated early years operating guide, toolkit and inspection information
• Early Years SENCO training – fully funded training now available 
• Using the professional title ‘nurse’ – DHSC call for evidence

Ofsted Updates

• Publication update: Ofsted’s early years blog

Sector Updates

• Said Rabbits
• Family Hubs & Early Years: Sharing What Works
• New research identifies three programmes that boost young children’s development 

DfE Updates

Reminder - Updated EYFS frameworks come into force 1 September 2026

On 13 July, we published updated EYFS frameworks for childminders and group and school-based providers, which apply from 1 September 2026. The main changes from that date are outlined below and represent strengthened safeguarding requirements. The safety of our youngest children is our utmost priority, and we continually monitor and review safeguarding requirements to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.

Both new EYFS frameworks include updates which:

• Bring explicit wording on the safer sleep requirements into the main body of the EYFS, so that providers do not need to refer out to separate guidance.

• Prohibit the provision of registered childcare from any premises where a banned dog breed is kept or present.

• Require providers to inform Ofsted or their childminder agency (CMA) of allegations of ‘harm’ (instead of ‘serious harm’) by anyone living, working, or looking after children at the premises.

• Require enhanced criminal records checks for volunteers (including those who are supervised) and prevent new employees from commencing employment before receiving their check.

• Amend the requirements for what providers must tell staff they have to disclose, as part of information that may affect their suitability to work with children

• The group and school-based version also requires providers of childcare on domestic premises to notify Ofsted or their CMA of changes to persons aged 16 or over living or working at the premises. This aligns with existing requirements for childminders.

Children’s screen use in early years settings

Both frameworks also require providers to have regard to screen use guidance for early years settings published in July 2026. The screen use guidance builds on the guidance for parents published in March 2026 and has been produced with contributions from sector experts including the Digital Standards Early Years Action Group and Early Years Screen Time Advisory Group.

Other changes to the EYFS

Other minor clarificatory changes have been made to both new frameworks. These are mainly to make the existing requirements clearer for providers.

Changes to registration requirements - in relation to banned dog breeds

In addition to the changes to the EYFS frameworks outlined above, the department has also updated registration requirements for early years settings as follows:

• Nannies will be prohibited from taking a banned dog breed onto a premises where they are providing childcare and will be required to take reasonable steps to avoid banned dog breeds being present.

• All other voluntarily registered, Early Years and Later Years providers will be prohibited from providing registered childcare from any premises where a banned dog breed is kept or present.

Early Years Qualifications Requirements and Standards

The Early Years Qualifications Requirements and Standards document will also be updated from 1 September 2026, to clarify the Level 2 English requirements.

DfE – Ofsted joint vodcast on safer sleep

The Department for Education and Ofsted have recently published a joint vodcast on safer sleep in early years settings. This includes an overview of the updated wording in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and a Q&A with Ofsted colleagues on what this means for inspections.

You can watch the vodcast via the Foundation Years website.

Working or volunteering in regulated activity with children

Due to the Crime and Policing Act 2026, there is a change to regulated activity which will come into force in September 2026.

The change affects settings which rely on volunteers. This is because of the removal of the supervision exemption. From 1 September 2026, all volunteers engaging in regulated activity will need an enhanced DBS check with children’s barred list information. This also applies to holiday clubs and wraparound care.

Providers should read the full guidance here - Regulated activity: removal of the supervision exemption (comes into force 1 September 2026) - GOV.UK

Have your say: Early Years Funding Consultation

Supporting toilet independence before school

You may have seen previous updates on getting children out of nappies between 18 and 30 months.

This summer we have a dedicated Best Start in Life campaign on toilet training to help families prepare their children for starting school. This includes Toilet Training Talks, a new film featuring Reception teacher Georgia Lucas and NHS GP Dr Emily MacDonagh, as well as practical guidance to help parents support their child's confidence and independence with everyday toileting skills. The resources acknowledge that every child develops at their own pace and that some children, such as those with bowel or bladder conditions or SEND, may benefit from additional time or tailored support.

Practitioners may wish to use and share these resources with parents, alongside the sector-led Potty Training Guide, developed with early years and health experts. As part of the campaign, we've also highlighted some additional resources below that practitioners may find helpful when supporting children and families with toilet training.

 Resources 

• Toilet Training Talks hero film: Best Start in Life | Toilet Training Talks | Toilet Training Tips Before Starting School - YouTube
• The Best Start in Life / NHS potty training guidance: https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/toddler/potty-training-your-child/ 
• The Potty-Training Guide: https://startingreception.co.uk/potty-training/ 
• ERIC – Potty training children with additional needs
• Dingley’s Promise – Support with Toileting
• BBC Tiny Happy People – Potty training children with additional needs

For action: Have your say on early years teaching reform

In June, the Department for Education launched a consultation on Shaping the Future of Early Years Teaching to reform how early years teachers are trained and supported, with the aim of strengthening training quality, improving career pathways, and raising the status of early years teaching across all settings.

The consultation covers:

• a shared core body of early years knowledge
• future training routes and career pathways
• potential routes to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
• support through induction and mentoring

The consultation is now open and closes on 24 September 2026

To ensure views are captured, please review the consultation document and submit your response via: Shaping the future of early years teaching - GOV.UK. Your insight will help shape the future of early years teaching.

Updated early years operating guide, toolkit and inspection information

From 1 September 2026, we will be using our updated early years operating guide, toolkit and inspection information when inspecting early years settings.  

Key changes include:  

• providers must meet the grading standards as well as the relevant EYFS requirements to be graded at the ‘expected standard’ 

• detail on safer sleeping arrangements and safer eating practices 

• clarity on inspecting when there are no early years children on roll or present 

• inspectors will speak to SENCo and other relevant leaders with inclusion roles 

• information about children with personal education plans.  

You can find out more about our changes in our change note and blog post.  

Early Years SENCO training – fully funded training now available

As part of the government’s Best Start in Life strategy, breaking down barriers to opportunity and improving early identification and support for children with SEND, the Department for Education is funding an additional 9,500 Early Years SENCO training places until March 2028.

You may be eligible for priority access if your setting is in a lower Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) area.  These priority settings are typically allocated funded places faster. 

While fully funded places are available to eligible applicants across all IDACI bands, we strongly encourage those in priority settings to apply as soon as possible to take advantage of this opportunity.

Recruitment is open now. For further information, including eligibility and to complete your application, please see Early Years SENCO - Level 3 | Best Practice Network.

Using the professional title ‘nurse’ – DHSC call for evidence

Ofsted Updates

Publication update: Ofsted’s early years blog

Our latest blog post Paying your annual fee: what you need to know provides more information about how Ofsted registered providers can pay their annual fee. We have recently introduced text and email reminders to help with this.  

We have also updated our Early years inspections: frequently asked questions blog post. 

Subscribe to receive the latest updates. 

Sector Updates

Said Rabbits

All of us must learn to cope with adversity, big or small, and carry on. Like us, toddlers must learn to manage their emotions when things don’t go as they like. 

Here are some resources around adversity and emotion, also investigating boundaries and learning to be tolerant. https://www.scallywagpress.com/images/again-rabbit/ResourcesforRabbitBooks.pd 

Family Hubs & Early Years: Sharing What Works

We are developing a new toolkit to help strengthen partnerships between Family Hubs and Early Years settings, with a focus on improving outcomes for children and families. 

As part of this work, we are looking for examples of good, effective or innovative practice from providers who have worked closely with their local Family Hub. This could include joint activities, integrated support for families, information sharing, outreach work, or creative approaches that have helped improve access to services and support. 

If your setting has developed a successful partnership with a Family Hub, we would love to hear from you. Your experience could help shape the toolkit and provide valuable learning for other providers across the network. 

To share your case study or find out more, please get in touch with the team. We look forward to showcasing the great work taking place across our local area. 

NationalCentreFamilyHubs@local.gov.uk 

New research identifies three programmes that boost young children’s development

https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/projects-and-evaluation/promising-programmes