2026 EYFS/EARLY YEARS TOOL KIT
Parent Corner
EYFS 2026: What Every Early Years Provider Needs to Know
A new year of stronger safeguarding, safer practice and greater professional accountability
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) continues to provide the foundation for high-quality education, care and development for children from birth to five. From 1 September 2026, important updates to the EYFS statutory framework came into force for childminders and group and school-based providers in England.
The 2026 changes place particular emphasis on safeguarding, safer sleep, safer eating and weaning, children's welfare, suitability of adults working with children, and responsible use of screens. At the same time, Ofsted has updated its Early Years Inspection Toolkit so that inspection reflects these strengthened statutory expectations.
What has changed in the EYFS 2026?
The changes do not completely rewrite the EYFS. Instead, they strengthen and clarify important areas of existing practice, particularly around children's safety and welfare.
1. Safer sleep is now explicitly within the EYFS
One of the most important changes is that safer sleep requirements are now written directly into the EYFS statutory framework rather than relying on providers to refer to separate guidance.
This means settings must be able to demonstrate that staff understand and consistently implement safe sleeping arrangements for babies and young children.
Providers should review their:
- Safer Sleep Policy
- Baby sleep risk assessments
- Individual sleep arrangements
- Staff training
- Sleeping records and monitoring
- Communication with parents
- Arrangements for babies who have additional or individual sleep needs
Ofsted has also strengthened its inspection expectations around safer sleeping. Inspectors will look for evidence that statutory guidance is understood and implemented in practice.
2. Safer eating and weaning
The 2026 inspection toolkit gives greater attention to safer weaning and eating practices.
For babies and young children, mealtimes are not simply about nutrition. They are also safeguarding matters. Staff need to understand choking risks, appropriate food textures, individual dietary requirements, allergies and safe supervision.
Settings should therefore ensure that staff understand:
- Age-appropriate food and textures
- Choking prevention
- Allergies and dietary requirements
- Safe weaning
- Appropriate supervision during meals
- Safe food preparation and storage
- Individual children's nutritional needs
Ofsted will consider safer weaning and eating within children's welfare and wellbeing and leadership and governance.
3. Banned dog breeds and childcare premises
The 2026 EYFS changes introduce stronger restrictions concerning banned dog breeds.
Registered childcare must not be provided from premises where a banned dog breed is kept or present, subject to the specific registration requirements that apply to the provider.
This is particularly important for childminders and childcare providers operating from domestic premises. Providers should review their premises, risk assessments and arrangements for visitors and household members.
4. Stronger safeguarding and DBS expectations
Safeguarding remains at the heart of the EYFS.
The 2026 framework strengthens requirements relating to allegations of harm, suitability and criminal-record checks. Enhanced DBS checks are required for volunteers, including supervised volunteers, and new employees must not start employment before receiving their required check.
This means that recruitment should never be treated simply as an administrative exercise.
Providers should ensure they have robust systems for:
Recruitment → References → DBS → Suitability → Induction → Safeguarding training → Ongoing supervision
The responsibility of leaders is not simply to collect documents but to create a culture where children are protected and concerns are acted upon promptly.
Children's screen use
Technology is now part of children's everyday lives, and the 2026 EYFS introduces a requirement for providers to have regard to screen-use guidance for early years settings.
The focus is not simply on banning screens. Providers should consider whether technology is appropriate, purposeful and supports children's learning, communication, development and wellbeing.
Settings should review:
- Their screen-use policy
- Children's access to digital devices
- Staff use of mobile phones
- Digital safeguarding
- Balance between screen experiences and active play
- Outdoor learning and physical activity
- Online safety
The key question should be: Does this technology improve the child's experience, or is it replacing something more valuable?
The 2026 Ofsted Early Years Inspection Toolkit
The EYFS changes are closely connected with the updated Ofsted Early Years Inspection Toolkit, which inspectors began using from 1 September 2026.
The toolkit forms part of Ofsted's renewed inspection framework and replaced the previous Early Years Inspection Handbook from November 2025.
The 2026 toolkit places particular emphasis on safeguarding, children's welfare and wellbeing.
Ofsted has added further detail concerning:
- Practitioners' responsibilities to protect children from harm
- Safer sleeping
- Safer eating and weaning
- Safeguarding
- Inclusion and SEND
- Teaching mathematics
- Children's vocabulary
- Personal Education Plans
- Leadership and governance
- DBS arrangements
- The impact of poor care practices on safeguarding
Importantly, providers must meet both the relevant EYFS requirements and the toolkit's grading standards when inspectors evaluate whether the expected standard has been achieved.
What does this mean for early years settings?
The message for 2026 is clear: compliance must become embedded practice.
It is no longer enough to have a beautiful policy sitting in a folder. Leaders and practitioners need to be able to demonstrate that policies are understood, implemented and reviewed.
Every setting should consider carrying out a 2026 EYFS Compliance Review covering:
- Safeguarding and child protection
- Safer sleep
- Safer eating and weaning
- DBS and staff suitability
- Recruitment and induction
- SEND and inclusion
- Behaviour and children's wellbeing
- Curriculum and teaching
- Observation and assessment
- Mathematics teaching
- Outdoor learning and physical development
- Screen use and digital safety
- Risk assessments
- Parent partnerships
- Leadership and governance
Preparing for 2026 and beyond
The EYFS 2026 changes should not be viewed simply as another compliance exercise. They provide an opportunity for settings to reflect on what really matters: Are our children safe? Are they thriving? Are they learning? Are their individual needs understood? Are practitioners confident and competent?
For leaders, the priority should be creating a culture of continuous improvement rather than preparing for inspection only when Ofsted calls.
A strong setting should be inspection-ready every day because good practice is embedded in everyday experiences.
The 2026 EYFS therefore brings an important message to the early years sector:
Safeguarding, welfare, learning and development are not separate responsibilities. They work together to give every child the best possible start in life.
As early years professionals, our responsibility is to keep learning, keep improving and keep putting children at the centre of everything we do.
At Beulah MINI Academy Consult Ltd, we believe that high-quality early years practice is built through professional knowledge, reflective practice, strong leadership, effective safeguarding and continuous professional development.
Together, we are raising a Beulah generation.
EYFS 2026: What Every Early Years Provider Needs to Know
A new year of stronger safeguarding, safer practice and greater professional accountability
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) continues to provide the foundation for high-quality education, care and development for children from birth to five. From 1 September 2026, important updates to the EYFS statutory framework came into force for childminders and group and school-based providers in England.
The 2026 changes place particular emphasis on safeguarding, safer sleep, safer eating and weaning, children's welfare, suitability of adults working with children, and responsible use of screens. At the same time, Ofsted has updated its Early Years Inspection Toolkit so that inspection reflects these strengthened statutory expectations.
What has changed in the EYFS 2026?
The changes do not completely rewrite the EYFS. Instead, they strengthen and clarify important areas of existing practice, particularly around children's safety and welfare.
1. Safer sleep is now explicitly within the EYFS
One of the most important changes is that safer sleep requirements are now written directly into the EYFS statutory framework rather than relying on providers to refer to separate guidance.
This means settings must be able to demonstrate that staff understand and consistently implement safe sleeping arrangements for babies and young children.
Providers should review their:
- Safer Sleep Policy
- Baby sleep risk assessments
- Individual sleep arrangements
- Staff training
- Sleeping records and monitoring
- Communication with parents
- Arrangements for babies who have additional or individual sleep needs
Ofsted has also strengthened its inspection expectations around safer sleeping. Inspectors will look for evidence that statutory guidance is understood and implemented in practice.
2. Safer eating and weaning
The 2026 inspection toolkit gives greater attention to safer weaning and eating practices.
For babies and young children, mealtimes are not simply about nutrition. They are also safeguarding matters. Staff need to understand choking risks, appropriate food textures, individual dietary requirements, allergies and safe supervision.
Settings should therefore ensure that staff understand:
- Age-appropriate food and textures
- Choking prevention
- Allergies and dietary requirements
- Safe weaning
- Appropriate supervision during meals
- Safe food preparation and storage
- Individual children's nutritional needs
Ofsted will consider safer weaning and eating within children's welfare and wellbeing and leadership and governance.
3. Banned dog breeds and childcare premises
The 2026 EYFS changes introduce stronger restrictions concerning banned dog breeds.
Registered childcare must not be provided from premises where a banned dog breed is kept or present, subject to the specific registration requirements that apply to the provider.
This is particularly important for childminders and childcare providers operating from domestic premises. Providers should review their premises, risk assessments and arrangements for visitors and household members.
4. Stronger safeguarding and DBS expectations
Safeguarding remains at the heart of the EYFS.
The 2026 framework strengthens requirements relating to allegations of harm, suitability and criminal-record checks. Enhanced DBS checks are required for volunteers, including supervised volunteers, and new employees must not start employment before receiving their required check.
This means that recruitment should never be treated simply as an administrative exercise.
Providers should ensure they have robust systems for:
Recruitment → References → DBS → Suitability → Induction → Safeguarding training → Ongoing supervision
The responsibility of leaders is not simply to collect documents but to create a culture where children are protected and concerns are acted upon promptly.
Children's screen use
Technology is now part of children's everyday lives, and the 2026 EYFS introduces a requirement for providers to have regard to screen-use guidance for early years settings.
The focus is not simply on banning screens. Providers should consider whether technology is appropriate, purposeful and supports children's learning, communication, development and wellbeing.
Settings should review:
- Their screen-use policy
- Children's access to digital devices
- Staff use of mobile phones
- Digital safeguarding
- Balance between screen experiences and active play
- Outdoor learning and physical activity
- Online safety
The key question should be: Does this technology improve the child's experience, or is it replacing something more valuable?
The 2026 Ofsted Early Years Inspection Toolkit
The EYFS changes are closely connected with the updated Ofsted Early Years Inspection Toolkit, which inspectors began using from 1 September 2026.
The toolkit forms part of Ofsted's renewed inspection framework and replaced the previous Early Years Inspection Handbook from November 2025.
The 2026 toolkit places particular emphasis on safeguarding, children's welfare and wellbeing.
Ofsted has added further detail concerning:
- Practitioners' responsibilities to protect children from harm
- Safer sleeping
- Safer eating and weaning
- Safeguarding
- Inclusion and SEND
- Teaching mathematics
- Children's vocabulary
- Personal Education Plans
- Leadership and governance
- DBS arrangements
- The impact of poor care practices on safeguarding
Importantly, providers must meet both the relevant EYFS requirements and the toolkit's grading standards when inspectors evaluate whether the expected standard has been achieved.
What does this mean for early years settings?
The message for 2026 is clear: compliance must become embedded practice.
It is no longer enough to have a beautiful policy sitting in a folder. Leaders and practitioners need to be able to demonstrate that policies are understood, implemented and reviewed.
Every setting should consider carrying out a 2026 EYFS Compliance Review covering:
- Safeguarding and child protection
- Safer sleep
- Safer eating and weaning
- DBS and staff suitability
- Recruitment and induction
- SEND and inclusion
- Behaviour and children's wellbeing
- Curriculum and teaching
- Observation and assessment
- Mathematics teaching
- Outdoor learning and physical development
- Screen use and digital safety
- Risk assessments
- Parent partnerships
- Leadership and governance
Preparing for 2026 and beyond
The EYFS 2026 changes should not be viewed simply as another compliance exercise. They provide an opportunity for settings to reflect on what really matters: Are our children safe? Are they thriving? Are they learning? Are their individual needs understood? Are practitioners confident and competent?
For leaders, the priority should be creating a culture of continuous improvement rather than preparing for inspection only when Ofsted calls.
A strong setting should be inspection-ready every day because good practice is embedded in everyday experiences.
The 2026 EYFS therefore brings an important message to the early years sector:
Safeguarding, welfare, learning and development are not separate responsibilities. They work together to give every child the best possible start in life.
As early years professionals, our responsibility is to keep learning, keep improving and keep putting children at the centre of everything we do.
At Beulah MINI Academy, we believe that high-quality early years practice is built through professional knowledge, reflective practice, strong leadership, effective safeguarding and continuous professional development.
Working together to bring out the genuis in you.
