Early years foundation stage (EYFS) safeguarding
Applies to England
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
This is the government’s response to the consultation on proposed changes to strengthen EYFS safeguarding requirements, which ran from 22 April 2024 to 17 June 2024.
Based on consultation responses the government will proceed with implementing:
- all of the safeguarding changes that were consulted on, with minor changes to the wording of some for additional clarity
- 2 new changes on whistleblowing and providing employment references
This document provides further detail on each of the safeguarding changes individually, setting out the responses to the consultation and the reasons behind the decisions made.
It is the government’s intention to proceed with statutory national implementation of the EYFS safeguarding reforms from 1 September 2025.
Original consultation
Consultation description
We are consulting on proposals to strengthen the EYFS safeguarding requirements and make them more comprehensive for early years providers. This is to ensure that all children are kept as safe as possible in early years settings.
This consultation is open to the public and in particular we invite responses from anybody with an interest in childcare. This includes:
- childminders
- childminder agencies
- early education and childcare providers
- early years and childcare practitioners
- nurseries, preschools and schools
- parents and carers, and organisations representing them
- charities
- local authorities
- early years and childcare sector organisations
- Ofsted
- colleges, universities and suppliers of qualifications
Updates to this page
Last updated 17 October 2024 + show all updates
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Added final outcome 'Early years foundation stage safeguarding reforms - consultation response'.
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First published.