Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework: online safeguarding training
As part of the EYFS framework, the Department for Education (DfE) has developed online safeguarding training in collaboration with the NSPCC. The training is free for all early years educators.
To access the training, please click on the button below and refer to the instructions on the EYFS main webpage.
New safeguarding guidance for early years providers
The DfE have published new safeguarding guidance for early years providers to help practitioners, managers and childminders understand and apply the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS.
The new content provides practical information and advice on creating a strong safeguarding culture, recognising concerns early, responding appropriately, and ensuring children are safe, healthy and supported to thrive.
The guidance includes information on:
- the safeguarding responsibilities of early years providers and practitioners
- the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
- creating and maintaining a strong safeguarding culture
- recognising signs of possible abuse, neglect and harm
- raising, recording and reporting safeguarding concerns
- whistleblowing procedures and when to use them
- safer recruitment and vetting requirements
- working in partnership with parents and carers to keep children safe
- staff training, supervision and ongoing safeguarding practice
- attendance, absence monitoring and information sharing
- resources, posters and links to further guidance and support
By using this guidance and supporting resources, you can strengthen safeguarding practice in your setting, support staff confidence and help ensure every child grows up in a safe, nurturing and protective environment.
To access the guidance click the button below.
Department for Education and Ofsted vodcast on safer sleep in early years settings
The DfE 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 then a Q&A with Ofsted colleagues on what this means for inspections.
To watch the vodcast click the button below.
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.
Providers should read the full guidance by clicking the button below.
Changes to registration requirements - in relation to banned dog breeds
In addition to the changes to the EYFS frameworks, which apply from 1 September 2026, the DfE 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.
For more information click the button below.
Early years qualification requirements and standards
The Early Years Qualifications Requirements and Standards document will be updated to clarify the qualifications that staff must hold to be included in the specified staff:child ratios at levels 2, 3 and 6 of the early years foundation stage (EYFS).
These changes will apply from 1 September 2026.
Bringing early years careers to life on the streets of Manchester
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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