The EYFS statutory framework: a complete guide for nurseries

The EYFS is the mandatory framework for all early years providers in England caring for children from birth to age five. It is given legal force under the Childcare Act 2006, and Ofsted (or an approved childminder agency) checks that providers meet it. The framework brings together two things: the learning and development children should experience, and the safeguarding and welfare standards that keep them safe.

Updated versions of the framework took effect on 1 September 2025, with separate documents for group and school-based providers and for childminders. The most significant changes were to the safeguarding requirements (covered below).

The EYFS applies to all schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers, including nurseries, pre-schools and childminders. As a provider you must deliver the learning and development requirements, meet the safeguarding and welfare requirements, and be able to demonstrate that you do. Failure to meet the requirements can affect your Ofsted outcome and, in serious cases, your registration.

The framework sets out seven areas of learning and development. Three are the prime areas, which are central to children's early development:

• Communication and language
• Physical development
• Personal, social and emotional development

The other four are the specific areas, through which the prime areas are strengthened and applied:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design

Children's progress is summarised by 17 early learning goals, which describe what most children should know and be able to do by the end of the Reception year. There is a progress check when a child is aged two, and an EYFS profile completed in the final term of the year in which a child turns five.

The safeguarding and welfare requirements exist to keep children safe and promote their wellbeing. They cover safeguarding policies and procedures, suitable people and recruitment, staff qualifications and training, health, managing behaviour, and the safety and suitability of premises and equipment.

From 1 September 2025, these requirements were strengthened. Key changes include:

• Safer recruitment: safeguarding policies must include procedures to help ensure only suitable people are recruited.
• Prolonged absence: providers must follow up when a child is absent for a prolonged period.
• Emergency contacts: providers must hold additional emergency contact details for children.
• Training: a new safeguarding training criteria annex, and policies must set out how safeguarding training is delivered.
• Privacy: children's privacy during nappy changing and toileting must be considered and balanced with safeguarding.

Ratios make sure there are enough suitable adults to care for children safely. In England the statutory minimums for group settings are:

• Children under 2: one adult to every three children (1:3).
• Two-year-olds: one adult to every five children (1:5).
• Children aged three and over: one adult to every eight children (1:8), or one to thirteen (1:13) where a qualified teacher, Early Years Teacher or other Level 6 practitioner is working directly with the children.

Childminders may care for up to six children under the age of eight, of whom no more than three may be young children (under five). Staff counting towards ratios must hold the relevant qualifications, and at least one person with a current paediatric first aid certificate must be on site. Always check the exact current figures in the live framework, as ratios are periodically reviewed.

Ofsted inspects early years providers against the framework. Inspectors look at the quality of education and care, how well children are learning and developing, how leaders run the setting, and how children are kept safe. Safeguarding is judged separately as met or not met. Meeting the EYFS day to day - and being able to evidence it - is what an inspection ultimately tests. See our guide on preparing for an Ofsted inspection.

The framework is detailed, and keeping evidence current across registers, ratios, safeguarding and learning is where settings feel the pressure. The practical answer is to capture evidence as part of everyday practice rather than reconstructing it before an inspection. Nursery management software like DullDocs does exactly this: every register, observation and incident is recorded, dated and organised automatically, so your compliance evidence is always up to date and inspection-ready.

The EYFS framework is updated periodically; the current versions took effect on 1 September 2025, with strengthened safeguarding requirements. Ofsted's approach to inspecting early years is also changing, with a new report-card model from September 2026 (see our guide to Ofsted report cards). Keep an eye on gov.uk for the latest versions, and date your own policies so you can show they reflect current requirements.