EYFS 2025 Changes EXPLAINED

Have you spotted the new EYFS updates coming into force September 2025? They include crucial changes around safeguarding, attendance, safer eating, staffing ratios, nutrition, and so much more. If you’re a nursery owner, manager, or early years practitioner, this is essential watching you’ll save hours, skip the dry reading, and get actionable guidance right now.

[Intro video]

Hey, everyone! I’m Curtly Ania, founder of Open a Nursery UK I guide nursery professionals to confidently implement new regulations and build outstanding settings. These EYFS changes are significant, and no one should navigate them alone. In today’s video, I’ll break down every change in plain language, explain what you need to do, and give you practical tips for seamless implementation.

Stick around to the end where I’ll point you to another in-depth walkthrough video and how you can easily reach out if you’d like personalised support.

1️⃣ SAFEGUARDING & STAFF RECRUITMENT

1. A) Safer Recruitment and References

What’s new?
From September, all settings must obtain formal references for anyone working with children including assistants, students, volunteers. Those references must be:

• Written and independently obtained
• From a reputable source (e.g., employer or education provider not just personal)
• Detailed enough to confirm identity, role, and safeguarding suitability

• not accept open references e.g. to whom it may concern
• not rely on applicants to obtain their reference
• ensure any references are from the candidate’s current employer, training provider or education setting and have been completed by a senior person with appropriate authority
• not accept references from a family member

Why it matters:
It aligns EYFS with school standards and helps prevent unsuitable people entering the profession.

Your action plan:

1. Update your Safer Recruitment policy to reflect this new requirement.
2. Add a ‘References required’ section to job adverts and staff induction packs.
3. Ensure written references are retained for Ofsted review.

The new guidance also places greater emphasis on the need of us as nursery owners to References should be provided for previous employees upon request in a timely manner. When asked to provide references, [providers/childminders] should ensure the information confirms whether they are satisfied with the applicant’s suitability to work with children and provide the facts (not opinions) of any substantiated safeguarding concerns/allegations that meet the harm threshold*. They should not include information about concerns/allegations which are unsubstantiated, unfounded, false, or malicious.

1. B) Whistleblowing

New Requirements:
Settings must have a clear, written whistleblowing policy outlining how staff can raise concerns internally or externally to NSPCC, Ofsted, or LADO (Help for Early Years Providers, thelink.slough.gov.uk, Showcase Training Ltd.).

Why it matters:
Promotes transparency and psychological safety staff know they can speak up without fear.

Your action plan:

• Create or update your Whistleblowing policy, referencing both internal routes and official external channels.
• Review it annually at staff meetings.
• Make sure it’s easily visible on your noticeboard, staff handbook, and website.

1. C) Safeguarding Training (Annex C)

What’s changed:
The new framework introduces an Annex C setting out minimum safeguarding training criteria. Settings also need to document:

• Which staff completed what training
• When they completed it
• Plans for refresher or DSL training (Showcase Training Ltd., Help for Early Years Providers)

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) must now receive enhanced training covering local protocols, online safety, responding to staff allegations with refresher training at least every two years (Showcase Training Ltd.)

Your action plan:

1. Map what training each staff member has.
2. Schedule refresher training.
3. Provide appropriate enhanced training for DSLs.
4. Include training info in your Safeguarding policy.

2️⃣ ATTENDANCE & ABSENCE

What’s new?
Settings now must:

• Maintain a clear attendance policy covering follow-up on unexplained or prolonged absence
• Hold at least two emergency contacts per child (Showcase Training Ltd., Help for Early Years Providers)

If a child doesn’t attend and you can’t contact their parents, settings should escalate ideally to social services or the police (Showcase Training Ltd.)

Why it matters:
Safeguards children at risk, and helps keep your setting compliant with DfE expectations.

Your action plan:

1. Write or update your Attendance policy define ‘unexplained absence’ and steps taken.
2. During each admission, collect two emergency contacts and verify them annually.
3. Train staff: “Check-in → call parents → escalate if absent.”
4. Document your follow-ups diligently.

3️⃣ PAEDIATRIC FIRST AID & RATIOS

What’s new?
Students and apprentices aged 16+ (staff aged 17+) can now be counted in ratios only if they hold valid, current paediatric first aid certificates.  They can be counted in ratios at the level below their study.  So, for example if they are studying level3 they can be counted as a level 2 for ratio purposes. (Twinkl, Showcase Training Ltd.).

Moreover, during meal/snack times, a qualified first-aider must be present (Showcase Training Ltd.).

Why it matters:
It formalises the non-negotiable requirement of first aid readiness especially around high-risk events like meals or outdoor play.

Your action plan:

1. Audit your staff certifications verify that those included in ratios hold relevant PFA certifications.
2. Plan training schedules for those who need requalifying.
3. For meal times, assign a designated first-aider on the rota and ensure the admin knows who it is.

4️⃣ SAFER EATING & NUTRITION

This is huge. From September 2025, EYFS includes statutory requirements around food nutrition, allergies, choking risks, safe weaning, and supervision (Showcase Training Ltd., GOV.UK).

1. A) Nutrition Guidance

The DfE’s new Early Years Foundation Stage Nutrition Guidance (April 2025) becomes statutory: settings must follow it unless a compelling reason not to exists (GOV.UK).

It covers:

• Nutritional needs from birth to 5+ (breastfeeding, formula, weaning, portion sizes)
• Healthy menu planning
• Food safety and hygiene
• Cultural, religious, and special diet considerations
• Packed lunches from home

Your action plan:

1. Download and familiarise yourself with the 39-page Nutrition Guidance (EY Alliance).
2. Update your Food & Nutrition policy, referring to the guidance.
3. Coordinate with parents around packed food, ensuring adherence to hygiene and dietary needs.
4. Organise staff training highlighting the new portion sizes, menu planning, and allergens protocols.

1. B) Safer Eating: Supervision & Choking Prevention

EYFS now explicitly requires:

• Paediatric first aider in the room during meals
• Sufficient staff supervision watching children closely for choking risks
• Logs of any choking incidents and follow-up reviews

Your action plan:

1. Revise your mealtime supervision policy specify who watches whom.
2. Keep a choking incident log record the incident, response time, and any subsequent actions. Review logs monthly.
3. Audit your dining area space, seating, visibility and adjust as needed.

1. C) Allergy & Weaning

Settings must collect and share specific allergy/intolerance details with staff, and note safe substitutes. For weaning, parents and staff work in partnership for appropriate textures and foods (Childcare.co.uk).

Your action plan:

1. Update induction forms to gather all allergy and weaning info.
2. Have standardized allergy action plans for each child, visible to all relevant staff.
3. Review weaning plans regularly, especially after a health visit.

5️⃣ PRIVACY & TOILETING

What’s new?
Privacy measures during nappy changing and toileting now require a balance between discretion and safeguarding. For instance, the adult may need to use their body as a shield while still observing the space (Showcase Training Ltd.).

Why it matters:
Protects dignity while upholding safeguarding.

Your action plan:

1. Incorporate this nuance into your Intimate Care policy.
2. Train staff on maintaining comfort and oversight simultaneously.
3. Audit toilet/nappy areas can one adult supervise multiple children with discretion?

6️⃣ INDOOR SPACE EXEMPTION

If your setting operates entirely outdoors (e.g., forest school), you’re exempt from indoor floor-space requirements only if children’s needs are still met (Help for Early Years Providers,).

Your action plan:

• Document that your setting operates outdoors and how outdoor spaces substitute for indoor ones.

7️⃣ EXTENDED EYFS (Beyond Age 5) 

Settings can now keep a child in EYFS beyond their fifth birthday but only with parental agreement. EYFS Profile should be completed at the end of the EYFS period

Your action plan:

• Inform parents and seek consent for extended EYFS placements.
• Record or publish your extended provision policy publicly.

QUICK RECAP TABLE 

IMPLEMENTATION TIPS 

1. Audit your current documentation now.
2. Host a staff briefing to highlight changes and ask for feedback.
3. Schedule training it may take weeks to book.
4. Plan to review compliance mid-September.
5. Share updates with parents via newsletter or meeting.

NEXT STEPS & RESOURCES 

If you want help updating your policies or training your team, check out my full breakdown video with downloadable templates linked below.

Click to watch “Updating EYFS Policies 2025: Templates & Training”
Or visit openanursery.co.uk to get in touch I’d love to support you.

Like this video if you found it helpful, and share it with your nursery team or manager.

Drop a comment: What’s your biggest challenge implementing these changes?

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Thanks for watching here’s to a smooth and proactive transition for EYFS 2025. You’ve got this!