Guidance

EYFSP return: technical specification

Specification for software suppliers and local authorities preparing for the early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) 2026 data return.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 27 January 2023
• Last updated: 17 December 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Early years foundation stage profile 2026: technical specification

PDF, 1.29 MB, 27 pages

Details

This specification is for:

• suppliers developing software for use in management information systems
• local authorities collecting and submitting data for the 2026 EYFSP data return

It explains:

• the business rationale for the return
• changes for the 2026 return
• methods for importing data into local authority information systems
• how to prepare and submit the data in XML format
• the validation rules that the Department for Education will apply to the data

You should read this guide alongside the common basic data set (CBDS). This defines common data items that we use in our data collections.

More guidance on submitting data to complete the EYFSP return is available.

Published 27 January 2023

Last updated 17 December 2025 + show all updates

1. 17 December 2025

   Updated the 'EYFSP return: technical specification' for 2026.

2. 8 January 2025

   We have updated the 'EYFSP return: technical specification' for 2025.

3. 13 March 2024

   Updated for 2024.

4. 30 March 2023

   Added an updated version of the 'Early years foundation stage profile 2023: technical specification'. Changes are in the version history.

5. 27 January 2023

   First published.