Early Years Foundation Stage Government Consultation

Closed 17 Jun 2024

Opened 22 Apr 2024

Contact

Safeguarding.CONSULTATION@education.gov.uk

Feedback updated 17 Oct 2024

We asked

The Department for Education consulted on proposals to strengthen safeguarding requirements in the statutory EYFS framework. Proposals covered: safer recruitment, child absences, safeguarding training, paediatric first aid training, safer eating, toileting and privacy.

You said

The consultation received 1470 responses. There was strong support from respondents for all the consultation proposals, with clear consensus that the safeguarding reforms will improve children’s safety and align with current best practice in early years settings.

We did

Based on consultation responses Government will proceed with implementing:

  • All of the safeguarding changes that were consulted on, with minor changes to the wording for additional clarity.
  • 2 new changes on whistleblowing and providing employment references.

We intend to proceed with statutory national implementation of the EYFS safeguarding reforms from 1st September 2025. You can read the Government’s response to the consultation in full on the Early years foundation stage (EYFS) safeguarding - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) webpage.

Overview

We're seeking views on proposed changes to safeguarding requirements in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework.

Why your views matter

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

Audiences

  • Teachers
  • Headteachers
  • Governors
  • School support staff
  • Early learning and childcare providers
  • Training providers
  • Local authorities
  • Adult education providers
  • Further education colleges
  • Sixth form colleges
  • Independent specialist colleges
  • Designated institutions and 16-19 academies
  • 16-18 year old students resident at these institutions
  • Designated safeguarding leads
  • Virtual school heads
  • SENCOs
  • Educational Psychologists
  • School business managers
  • Governing bodies and academy trusts
  • Bodies representing schools and local authorities
  • Faith bodies
  • Pupils
  • Young people
  • Parents
  • Foster carers
  • Adoptive parents
  • Employers
  • Community representatives
  • Volunteers
  • Social workers
  • Unions and representative organisations
  • Government bodies and departments
  • Those evaluating programmes for children in need
  • Those involved in underlying theoretical research on abuse and neglect, child development etc
  • Those researching children’s social care or education systems, with links to educational outcomes of Children in Need
  • Academies (including free schools), voluntary aided schools, voluntary controlled schools, foundation schools and community schools

Interests

  • Early learning and childcare
  • Early years foundation stage
  • Keeping children safe in education and other settings
  • Preventing neglect, abuse and exploitation