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Changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework – section 3
The principal changes to the EYFS from September 2021 are to the learning and development requirements and the inclusion of
the Reception Baseline Assessment. Additionally, there are some small changes to the safeguarding and welfare requirements,
following feedback from the sector, to:
• clarify existing policy and address commonly asked questions,
• provide links to new or updated guidance that may be useful, for instance around preparing food safely for children of
different ages, and
• reflect updates in legislation and systems that have taken place since the EYFS framework was updated in 2017.
The table below summarises the section 3 changes.
EYFS reference
Change
Rationale
Paragraphs 3.4
& 3.5
Removed references to Local Safeguarding Children Board
(LSCB). Replaced with “local safeguarding partners” (LSP).
LSCBs have been replaced by “local safeguarding partners”
(LSP). This is an update to reflect current policy.
Paragraph 3.4
Added: To safeguard children and practitioners online, providers
will find it helpful to refer to “Safeguarding children and protecting
professionals in early years settings: online safety
considerations”. Footnote with link to the guidance.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-
children-and-protecting-professionals-in-early-years-settings-
online-safety-considerations
This guidance was published in 2019, so is not included in
the 2017 framework. This is an update to signpost providers
to guidance they may find helpful in implementing the EYFS
requirements to safeguard children and practitioners.
Paragraph 3.9
Replaced “is likely to” with “may”. The relevant sentence reads:
“Providers must have effective systems in place to ensure that
practitioners, and any other person who may have regular contact
with children (including those living or working on the premises),
are suitable.”
This change is to clarify that all people who may come into
regular contact with children are included in this requirement
and is intended to assist providers in interpretation.
Paragraph 3.10
(second bullet
point) – suitable
people
Amended to clarify that a criminal record check is not needed for
someone living on the premises by adding:
“unless there is no access to the part of the premises when and
where children are cared for”
Ofsted carries out checks in respect of all providers on
domestic premises rather than non-domestic. The
amendment is to make clear that where there is no access
to children by someone who lives on the premises no
criminal record check is required.
