From 1st September 2025, the government has introduced important updates to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the statutory framework that guides all early years providers in England, including childminders, nurseries and pre-schools.
Whether you’re a registered childminder, someone thinking about becoming one, or a parent choosing care for your little one, these changes are designed to improve safety, quality, and support in early years settings.
Here’s what you need to know about the key changes:
1. Stronger Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment
Childminders and settings must now:
- Collect verified references for new staff or assistants (these cannot be from family or friends)
- Keep clear records of suitability checks
- Respond promptly to unexplained absences, using multiple emergency contacts
2. Improved Safeguarding Training
Staff working in early years must now:
- Complete safeguarding training at least every two years
- Be supported to apply that training in everyday practice
- Understand the role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) more clearly, with a more robust definition included in the new EYFS
These steps are all about ensuring children are safe and staff are informed and up to date, with clear policies and support in place.
3. First Aid Counts More Than Ever
From now on, anyone (including students or apprentices) who is included in the adult-to-child ratios must hold a valid Paediatric First Aid (PFA) certificate. This ensures there’s always someone present who can respond quickly in an emergency.
4. Safer Eating and Greater Allergy Awareness
A new focus on safe eating means:
- Childminders must collect allergy and dietary info before a child starts
- Choking risks must be actively prevented with age-appropriate food
- Allergy action plans must be in place and incidents reviewed
There’s also a new non-statutory nutrition guide to help providers offer healthy, balanced meals and snacks. Providers should aim to follow this guidance wherever possible.
5. Privacy and Dignity During Care
During nappy changing or toileting, childminders must now take extra care to protect children’s dignity and privacy, while also making sure they are safeguarded and supervised. Intimate care routines should be reviewed and updated to ensure all measures are being taken to support respectful, nurturing care.
6. Clearer Whistleblowing Policies
Every early years setting must have a clear whistleblowing procedure, showing how staff can raise concerns safely and be protected when they do.
7. Development Matters Refreshed
The government’s non-statutory guidance, Development Matters, has been updated to make it simpler and more focused.
There are now just three age bands:
- Birth to 3
- Age 3–4
- Reception year
This helps childminders use their professional judgment while still following best practice in child development.
What Does This Mean for You?
Childminders
You should be reviewing and updating all relevant policies, especially around safeguarding, health and safety, and child development. Your recruitment and training practices for staff should be brought up to date, and you should be thinking about how you’ll make sure these changes are implemented in your day-to-day practice.
Parents
These changes are designed to strengthen safeguarding and ensure more consistency across all early years settings. This gives you added reassurance that your child’s safety and wellbeing remain the top priority. As part of this, childminders and providers will follow clearer guidance around unexplained absences. If your child is not in attendance and no reason has been given, you may be contacted sooner than before. This is simply to help keep all children safe. By staying in touch and letting your setting know if your child won’t be attending, you’re playing an important part in making sure every child is protected and supported.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 EYFS changes focus on the things that matter most, safety, quality of care, and trust. All good early years professionals should be regularly reviewing their practice to ensure they are compliant with this key legislation. Remember, it’s not just about your policies on paper, the key is to ensure you are reflecting this in your everyday practice, and that goes for all members of staff working in the setting.
If you’re an @Home Childcare childminder and would like help understanding how these updates apply to you or your setting, feel free to get in touch via phone or email, we’re always happy to help.
0115 978 3399
childminding@homechildcare.co.uk
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