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Foundation Years July Bulletin | |
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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. | |
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Department for Education and NSPCC early years safeguarding training | |
The Department for Education has launched an online early years safeguarding training package, developed in collaboration with the NSPCC. This training covers sections 1 and 2 of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework’s safeguarding training annex, which all early years educators must be trained in line with every two years. The training is free to access for all early years educators including childminders and reception staff.
A link to the training can be found on the landing page of the EYFS or accessed at the following link - Department for Education EY safeguarding training We have also published a new safeguarding guidance page on the Help for Early Years Providers site which you may find helpful to review. | |
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Have your say: Changes to the funding system for early years entitlements | |
The Department for Education has launched a consultation on proposed changes to the funding system for early years entitlements. The consultation outlines the government's vision for a reformed early years funding system, alongside proposals to support the transition to the new arrangements in 2027– 28.
The proposals aim to maximise the impact of entitlements funding to: This consultation meets a commitment in the Best Start in Life strategy to review and consult on changes to how we distribute early years funding to support the aim of ensuring every child has the best start in life. We encourage all early years providers, educators, and parents and carers to take part and share their views. The consultation closes on 14 September. | |
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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 | |
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Reminder: Early Years Teacher Recognition Payment | |
DfE has launched a recognition payment of up to £4500 for early years teachers in the most disadvantaged communities.
The scheme is currently open to eligible teachers working in 10 local authority areas, as part of a live trial of the digital Claim service.
To be eligible teachers must: work within Barking and Dagenham, Bolton, Dudley, Hartlepool, Luton, Middlesbrough, Rochdale, Rotherham, Sandwell or Tameside
The claim window will close at 5pm on Friday 31 July. No more claims will be reviewed after this. It is then expected that the scheme will reopen and be expanded to 30 LA areas later this year. Read the guidance and apply here: Claim an early years teacher recognition payment | |
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Early Years Qualifications List (EYQL) Webview Launching Soon | |
From autumn, the Early Years Qualifications List (EYQL) will move to an improved online format on GOV.UK, replacing the current spreadsheet version.
The EYQL webview will make qualification information easier to search, view and understand. Users will be able to access qualification details, additional requirements and important notes directly online.
The EYQL helps users check whether a qualification is recognised by the Department for Education as "full and relevant" for the purposes of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) staff:child ratios in England.
For users who prefer to work offline, the full EYQL will continue to be available to download from the webview.
The EYQL webview can be used alongside the Check an Early Years Qualification (CEYQ) service to support qualification checks. It can also be used to find full and relevant qualifications to study. | |
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Play Stations: Bringing Early Years Careers to Life on the Streets of Manchester | |
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The Do Something Big early years recruitment campaign reached an exciting milestone in June with the launch of a bold digital activation in Manchester city centre, designed to attract new people into the early years workforce. Thanks to the campaign concept winning a bronze award at the Ocean Outdoor Digital Creative Competition, the team secured £50,000 of free media space to make the activation possible.
From 15 June, Play Stations transformed large digital screens across Ocean Outdoors' Loop Network into immersive, interactive experiences giving passersby a real feel for working with young children. Using reactive mixed reality technology, people stepped onto floor vinyl to trigger motion-based gameplay, interacting directly with children on screen through games like Peekaboo and Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.
The activation was designed to let people experience the energy and joy of early years education first hand, in a way traditional advertising simply cannot replicate. As early years providers, you will know better than anyone how rewarding and purposeful this work is, and this campaign aimed to bring that to life for people who might never have considered it as a career. With demand for early years educators growing following the expansion of the government's free childcare offer, attracting new people into the sector has never been more important.
The campaign also ran at high footfall locations including the Arndale Media Wall, Printworks, and roadside screens targeting commuters and students. We hope this encourages more people to discover just how rewarding a career in early years can be. | |
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Autumn Term activity for the National Year of Reading has arrived! | |
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The final term of the National Year of Reading is here, and it’s not too late to Go All In. Focusing on the termly theme ‘in the community,’ the autumn term aims to take reading beyond teaching spaces to celebrate the vital roles that wider communities play in fostering a love of reading in young people.
What’s included?
Get involved
The free platform is flexible and easy to use, with content shaped to support your school or setting. You can pick and choose activities that suit your needs, as well as catch up on content – meaning you can start your journey at any time.
If you’re already taking part, login and start exploring.
If you’re new, sign up today and join the 6,500+ schools and settings already working together to help every child and young person discover reading as a source of joy, agency, and opportunity. | |
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National Education Nature Park | |
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Some areas of the country have recently been experiencing wildfires. In light of this, please share this advice with settings in your area and help us to reach impacted early years teams as well as families with this useful information. Key steps for those living and working in areas affected by smoke from wildfire: - stay inside and keep windows and doors shut
- turn off any air conditioning systems that draw air in from outside
- avoid or limit any time spent outdoors in areas affected by smoke
- follow local media for updates and follow official advice
You can read more detailed information and advice on coping with the health risks from the UK Health Security Agency here: Why severe wildfires are becoming more frequent in the UK and how to cope with the health risks – … EY providers should keep in close communication with their Local Authority on any closures. The DfE statutory guidance Early education and childcare - GOV.UK (effective from 1 April 2026) paragraph A4.32 sets out that local authorities should ensure that providers are not penalised through withdrawal of funding for short-term closures of a setting, for example, as a result of local or national elections, or circumstances beyond the provider’s control, such as strike action or damage to the premises. | |
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Book your place on Let’s Go Zero’s Carbon Literacy course | |
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Looking to start September off with sector-leading professional development? Let's Go Zero's Carbon Literacy training is back for Autumn!
Develop your knowledge of the causes, effects and implications of climate change and deepen your understanding on how to reduce your contribution – both at home and in the workplace.
Their accredited Carbon Literacy course is an ideal way for you to boost your knowledge and confidence around climate change, carbon emissions and climate action planning. Course convenors have drawn from Let’s Go Zero’s vast experience working in the education sector to deliver a tailored and comprehensive course designed with busy teachers in mind.
There are two cohorts to choose from, with both consisting of four 2-hour sessions held weekly from 15.30 - 17.30.
Find out more and book your place today: Carbon Literacy training from Let's Go Zero | |
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A Special Approach to Making it REAL - Free funded webinars! | |
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Supporting parents mental health and wellbeing | |
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When parents struggle with poor mental health - often made worse by challenges including poverty, insecure or unsuitable housing, domestic abuse, addiction, conflict between parents, isolation and loneliness - it’s a pressing public health challenge.
But while some parents experiencing mental health and wellbeing issues need clinical interventions, others may just need practical support with their young children, and with parenting skills.
The National Children’s Bureau has launched a best practice guide on supporting parental mental health and wellbeing. Drawing on the A Better Start Parents as Partners Insight report and the World Health Organisation’s definition of mental health and wellbeing, the guide shows that mental health and wellbeing are inseparable.
Using practical examples from ten years of work across A Better Start partnerships, you can access resources, reflective questions and video grounded in a decade of place-based delivery to inspire your practice. Access the free best practice guide at https://www.ncb.org.uk/what-we-do/practice-and-programmes/focusing-early-years/better-start/parents-partners-supporting | |
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A focus on inclusion in the early years | |
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The Early Years SEND Partnership is a national programme supporting professionals and parents with training, resources, and an approach to sharing learning, with the aim to increase access and inclusion in early years for children with SEN and Disabilities.
The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) leads the EYSEND Partnership and works alongside five partners: nasen, Speech and Language UK, Contact, Dingley's Promise, and the Early Childhood Unit (ECU) at the National Children’s Bureau.
Following an evaluation of the EYSEND partnership programme in 2024/25, a further evaluation was carried out for the year 2025/26 by Nottingham Trent University.
The aim of the evaluation was to provide a robust understanding of the impact of:
You can find out more about the programme and read the evaluation here: https://buff.ly/qWwyzvf | |
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Reframing school readiness | |
What does ‘school readiness’ mean in reality? And how can those of us around the child - parents, practitioners, schools and communities - come together to make sure every child has the support for a better start in life?
The National Children’s Bureau has published a free best practice guide and podcast on school readiness, designed for practitioners, local authorities, educators and anyone with an interest in early childhood development.
In the podcast, NCB spoke to practitioner trainer, early years specialist and deputy head at a maintained nursery school, Jacqui, about how she approaches school readiness. And Isla, mother of three, also shares what it was like getting her children ready for school, and gives advice for practitioners.
Listen now on Spotify: https://buff.ly/dlTPNk0 or Soundcloud: https://buff.ly/AeweioO
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Foundation Years is funded by the Department for Education and brought to you by Begin Bright. |
Our mailing address is: foundationyears@beginbright.com | | | |
