Changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework: Clarifications and Updates, Summaries of Advanced Education

Download Changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework: Clarifications and Updates and more Summaries Advanced Education in PDF only on Docsity! 1 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 LSCBs have been replaced by “local safeguarding partners” (LSP).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. 2 Paragraph 3.11 & footnote 26 Changed “before an individual starts work with children” at the end of the first sentence in footnote 26. To “before an individual has unsupervised contact with children” This is an update to clarify that providers can allow someone to start work even if the DBS check has not come back as long as that person is supervised. This change ensures alignment between paragraph 3.11 and footnote 26. Paragraph 3.14 (footnote 28), 3.15, 3.17 For childcare on non-domestic premises removed the references to disqualification for a provider or staff member who lives with a disqualified person, or because they live in the same household where a disqualified person is employed. Removed reference to the 2016 disqualification consultation in footnote 28. Following a consultation, this group were removed from the disqualification regulations from 01/09/18: The Childcare (Disqualification) and Childcare (Early Years Provision Free of Charge) (Extended Entitlement) (Amendment) Regulations 2018. This update aligns the EYFS framework with the updated legislation. Paragraph 3.19 Changed “practitioner” to “staff member”. Practitioner changed to “staff member” for consistency. Paragraph 3.20 suitable people Amended to make clear that providers must comply with the Equality Act 2010 to ensure the fair and equal treatment of practitioners of different gender, race, and sexual orientation etc. This addition signposts the Equality Act 2010 that all providers must comply with and reflects to the importance of ensuring a diverse early years workforce, which better reflects wider society. Paragraph 3.28 Amended the first phrase “In group settings” to “settings on the early years register”. This is to be clear that this requirement only applies to early years settings on the early years register and does not apply to schools. Paragraph 3.28 – footnote 36 New footnote: Capable and qualified includes having necessary skills and knowledge to deputise. A deputy does not have to have any specific qualification. The EYFS makes clear that deputies are not required to have specific qualifications to take on this role. It is for providers to use their judgement to determine capability. Also Paragraph 3.28 – Qualifications (see also paras 3.32 to 3.38) Removed the phrase “full and relevant” in respect of qualifications and changed to ‘approved’ qualifications. New footnote added to provide a link to approved qualifications. Footnote 35 added to say that “These qualification requirements do not apply to out-of-school provision for reception aged children” Check early years qualifications - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The phrase ‘full and relevant’ applied when the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) were responsible for qualifications and their criteria, so this wording is now outdated. Qualifications must be approved by DfE. Footnote 35 has been added to ensure alignment with paragraph 3.41 which sets out the qualifications required for before and after school care and holiday provision.