Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework
The standards that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
There are 2 statutory EYFS frameworks:
- EYFS statutory framework for childminders
- EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers
Providers are responsible for ensuring they follow the current version of the framework for their provider type.
The EYFS framework:
- sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well
- ensures children are kept healthy and safe
- ensures children have the knowledge and skills they need to start school
It also includes early years qualification requirements and standards.
Help for early years providers and childminders working with 0- to 5-year-olds is available.
Further supporting materials for settings and practitioners are available on the Foundation Years website.
Updates to this page
Last updated 1 November 2024 + show all updates
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Removed 'EYFS statutory framework for childminders (effective until 1 November 2024)' and 'EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers (effective until 1 November 2024)'.
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We have clarified that the 'Childminder EYFS Framework' applies to childminders both with, and without, domestic premises. We have also confirmed that childminders who are registered without domestic premises need to inform parents and carers that they cannot provide any provision from domestic premises (unless they hold a separate domestic premises registration for the specific premises). On the 'EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers' we have clarified the qualification requirements for staff counting in the level 6 staff:child ratios in early years settings. Minor changes to both frameworks include clarifications to existing policy, spelling and grammar.
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Clarified wording in paragraphs 3.11, 3.61, 3.64 and 3.67 in the framework for childminders and paragraphs 3.40, 3.41, 3.62 in the framework for groups and schools. Some paragraph numbers have been updated to reflect these changes and other minor formatting amendments and link corrections have been made.
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Updated the 2 statutory framework documents to clarify providers’ responsibilities on paediatric first aid training. In the framework for childminders we have also edited paragraph 3.24, in the section on training, support and skills.
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Removed 'Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (applies until 3 January 2024)' and amended the text to reflect this.
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Added summaries of changes from the September 2023 guidance to the January 2024 guidance.
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Added the 'EYFS statutory framework for childminders' and the 'EYFS statutory framework for group and school-based providers'. You should use these documents from 4 January 2024.
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Updated to highlight that the new statutory framework for the early years foundation stage applies from 4 September 2023. Removed the previous version.
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Added new version of 'Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage' which applies from 4 September 2023. The following 3 changes will apply: the current statutory minimum staff:child ratios in England for 2-year-olds changes from 1:4 to 1:5; childminders can care for more than the specified maximum of three young children if they are caring for siblings of children they already care for, or if the childminder is caring for their own child; clarifying that 'adequate supervision' while children are eating means that children must be within sight and hearing of an adult.
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Updated to make it clear that the new statutory framework for the early years foundation stage applies from 1 September 2021. Removed the previous version and the early years foundation stage coronavirus disapplications as they are no longer in force.
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Updated 'Early years foundation stage: coronavirus disapplications' with link to the current version of Ofsted’s early years inspection handbook, and clarification of dates disapplications can be used.
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Updated as inspections of early years providers resume on 4 May, the disapplications to the early years foundation stage profile are in force (and no longer subject to parliamentary approval), and paediatric first aid practitioners must attend requalification training to renew expired certificates.
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Added a new statutory framework for the early years foundation stage which applies from 1 September 2021. Until then, the current framework applies.
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Added guidance on the 2021 early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) assessment and paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate requalification training.
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Updated 'Early years foundation stage: coronavirus disapplications' with a link to Ofsted's operational notes, which set out in further detail, how providers will be inspected from January 2021. Provided further clarity on the definition of 'reasonable endeavours'.
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Amended 'Early years foundation stage: coronavirus disapplications' to remove reference to the original transition period and the PFA certification extensions, both which ended on 25 November 2020.
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Amended the content on early years foundation stage coronavirus disapplications to reflect the updated arrangements that were put in place from 26 September 2020, and national restrictions.
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Updated 'early years foundation stage: coronavirus disapplications' to reflect that the original disapplications ended on 25 September and the new regulations which came into force on the 26 September.
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Updated to reflect new regulations which allow temporary coronavirus (COVID-19) disapplications to re-apply if a provider is prevented from complying with the EYFS due to coronavirus (COVID-19) related restrictions or requirements. They also add disapplications around paediatric first aid to the transitional period, which originally only applied to disapplications around staffing levels.
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Updated to reflect the extension of the validity of current PFA certificates.
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Updated to reflect wider opening of early years settings from 1 June 2020 and to provide a clarification on progress checks for children aged 2.
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Added guidance to the temporarily disapplied, and modified certain elements of the EYFS statutory framework.
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Updated statutory guidance title and summary.
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Added new statutory framework.
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Added link to the Foundation Years website.
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First published.