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
Help for early years providers and childminders working with 0- to 5-year-olds is available.
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 that children have the knowledge and skills they need to start school
This statutory framework is for:
- school leaders
- school staff
- childcare providers
- childminders
- out-of-school providers
It relates to:
- local-authority-maintained schools
- non-maintained schools (schools not maintained by a local authority)
- independent schools
- academies and free schools
- nurseries
- private nursery schools
- pre-schools/playgroups
- childminding
Supporting material is available on the Foundation Years website.
Statutory guidance is issued by law. You must follow it unless there is a good reason not to do so.
Last updated 4 September 2023 + show all updates
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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 Removed the previous version and the early years foundation stage coronavirus disapplications as they are no longer in force.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.