Early Years News August 2025

How are you getting on? There are a lot of changes for early years providers in England to process during August and more to follow from Ofsted. It’s important to focus on your wellbeing and take time for yourself.

Set aside some time to think through the changes and watch Childcare.co.uk webinars to help you. If you need some help or ideas, reach out to your colleagues and find out how they are getting on. It is important that providers come together and support each other.

Upcoming changes for childminders in England

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which is published by DfE in England, will be revised from 1st September to include lots of new safeguarding and welfare requirements. The final version was published 14th July 2025. You will find free guidance on the changes from Childcare.co.uk.

The new Ofsted inspection framework (report cards, new inspection areas, new grades etc) – publication has been delayed. Ofsted has announced the framework guidance will be published in September for inspector training in October and a November inspection start date. You can read the letter from Ofsted to DfE and the DfE response online.

New Ofsted inspection timings – Ofsted stated in the ‘Improving the way Ofsted inspects’ announcement that, 'From next April Ofsted will inspect all new early years providers within 18 months of opening and move towards inspecting all providers at least once every four years, compared to the current six-year cycle.' Childcare.co.uk has asked Ofsted for more information about how this will impact childminder inspections in the future.

New Ofsted inspection framework – in September, Ofsted are delivering free webinars to explain the inspection changes. If they are full, Ofsted has said they will record the webinars for their YouTube channel. After that, Childcare.co.uk has commissioned a series of free webinars for all members.

Ofsted inspection announcement

Ofsted has announced several measures (15.7.25) to reassure providers about the November roll-out of inspections under the renewed inspection framework. They are seeking to reassure the sector that they are going to be mindful of the changes to inspections and roll them out after training etc.

• All inspectors will be trained in the changes.
• Fewer inspections in November and December.
• Regulatory work will continue as normal.
• All inspections will be led by senior inspectors.
• No inspections in the week before Christmas.
• Regular updates will be provided on a FAQ document.
• They will be holding random ‘exit interviews’ to get inspection feedback.

EYFS 2025 – frequently asked questions answered

Childcare.co.uk members have raised a number of questions and concerns about the EYFS September 2025 changes. Some have been answered by DfE and others by Ofsted.

Ofsted, for example, wants to reassure childminders that inspectors will continue, during inspection, to inspect ‘in line with the EYFS’ and continue to look at what is it like to be a child in the setting.

They have stated that inspection will not change because the EYFS has been updated from 1st September 2025. It is not a compliance checklist and providers won’t be asked questions relating to the changes. For example, the changes will come up if Ofsted are following up on things that happen during inspection.

• References – Ofsted are aware that it can be challenging to gain references, especially if they are refused or contents are limited. Ofsted can, for example, call a provider to find out why they haven’t provided a reference. They will check providers know what is required by the EYFS. You will find more information about references, including a sample reference form, on the Childcare.co.uk assistant / staff page.
• Prolonged absence – your Attendance Policy should follow LA guidance. How it is implemented will depend on the vulnerability in home circumstances which will impact decision making. It’s about knowing children and doing the right thing by them. Ofsted will want to know how the policy is used to keep children safe and well and support the setting’s safeguarding culture. We will need to use our professional judgment and be able to explain why we’ve done what we have done – for example, set a particular timeframe. You will find a sample Attendance Policy here from Childcare.co.uk.
• Students – what if students don’t feel confident to be included in ratios at the level below the level of study? The EYFS does not require them to be in ratio and if it might affect safety, providers must not allow it. They must also have a paediatric first aid certificate to be included. Ofsted say, ‘just because you can doesn’t mean you should.’ Is it right for the children? You will find staff training modules on the Childcare.co.uk website.
• Privacy, nappy changing and toileting – children’s privacy must be balanced with safeguarding other children in the setting. DfE suggest that a lone childminder might use their body as a shield to maintain privacy and still be able to supervise other children.
• Safer recruitment – Ofsted confirm that the requirement to have a Safer Recruitment Policy is not relevant if you do not have staff. However, inspectors will continue to ask about safer recruitment during the registration visit in case the childminder changes their mind. Childcare.co.uk has a comprehensive series of guides for registering childminders.
• Choking and intervention – you must record all incidents of choking intervention but what is ‘intervention’? Ofsted consider intervention to be anything we do if a child seems to be choking – checking the child’s mouth, patting them on back as well as following paediatric first aid. You can use the Childcare.co.uk incident report form to record choking intervention.
• Whistleblowing – do you need a policy if you are a lone childminder? Opinions vary in reply to this question, but from a safeguarding point of view, whistleblowing is about more than raising concerns relating to a staff member. It can cover, for example, being out and about with another childminder who loses a child or noting dangerous practice while collecting a child from another setting. Childcare.co.uk has a recorded webinar which covers detailed information about whistleblowing.
• Seating when eating – do childminders need to invest in expensive low chairs to comply with the new EYFS requirement about seating when eating? Most childminders tell us they use a dining table and Ofsted have confirmed that inspectors will not expect childminders to invest in low chairs – the requirement is ‘should’ rather than ‘must’. The change is about ensuring babies and young children are seated safely when they are eating.
• Small eating spaces – childminders asked DfE what they should do if they have a small eating space and they cannot sit with the children. DfE advise that the requirement is to be able to watch the children when they are eating, to notice if they are choking and to stop them, for example, swapping food which might cause an allergic reaction.
• Limited diets – Ofsted will note what children are eating and take the context into consideration. For example, how well the provider is working with parents to help the child to eat a more extensive diet and how the child is being supported to try new foods. DfE has published new nutrition guidance for early years providers.
• Picnics – DfE state that childminders can continue to take children on picnics. You must use your professional judgement – what is a distraction when children are eating? Make sure you are focused on the mealtime and social interactions, being aware of choking and allergies. Also remember that, when eating, children must be in sight and hearing at all times.

Childcare.co.uk has added a useful recently updated EYFS Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements Audit to their resources which you might find useful.

RICHARD TO ADD THE LINK.

Early years safeguarding training package

DfE has announced they will be releasing a package of training in spring 2026 which will be free for all early years providers. The training will cover sections 1 and 2 of the safeguarding training required by the EYFS from September 2025. Additionally, training for DSL, ‘Should take account of any advice from the local safeguarding partners or local authority on appropriate training courses.’ The training will not be statutory.

Online Safety Act

The Online Safety Act requires childcare providers to protect children online including carrying out risk assessments and applying age-appropriate controls to keep children safe.

You might want to share information about the Online Safety Act with parents and talk about the ways you keep children safe online in your setting – for example, monitoring all online use, talking to children about online safety and reading books about staying safe online.

As the designated safeguarding lead (DSL) for your early years setting, online safety must be included in your DSL safeguarding training from 1st September 2025 to help you comply with the new safeguarding training requirements in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

There is more information about online safety for parents on the Ofcom website.

Childcare.co.uk gold members will find a recorded DSL training webinar and ‘basic’ safeguarding training to comply with the revised EYFS requirements on the webinar player.

Keeping Children Safe in Education – update for 2025

The updated version of Keeping Children Safe in Education for 2025 has been published (July 2025).

The EYFS states that ‘childminders may also find it useful to look at’ the document (EYFS 3.8).

There aren’t any major updates – just what DfE describe as ‘technical changes’. DfE are still waiting for new guidance linked to relationships, sex and health education and gender questioning children which will be added to the document when they are finalised.

Updated wording relates to online risks and harms (misinformation, disinformation, conspiracy theories, cyber security for schools and generative AI). Note that online safety will be part of the statutory safeguarding training for the DSL in early years settings from Sept 1st in the EYFS update, so this might be useful information to research for your CPD.

NSPCC has published further guidance in a Caspar briefing paper.

Stay safe with the children

The following guidance has been released recently which might be useful to share with parents, to support children’s safety at home as well as in the setting:

• CAPT (Child Accident Prevention Trust) advice on dangerous products to avoid in summer.
• Food Standards Agency guidance on glycerol in slush ice drinks.
• NHS guidance on sun safety and the importance of using sunscreen.
• NHS reminder to vaccinate children against measles after recent outbreaks.
• RLSS (Royal Life Saving Association) advice on staying safe near and on water.

Do you need to update your risk assessments? The EYFS does not require written risk assessments, but you should always assess hazards when you are, for example, taking children on outings, to minimise the risk of serious injury or death.

Childminders taking on an assistant

If you are a childminder and want to take on an assistant, this is the process you need to follow –

• Read the Childcare.co.uk assistant guidance.
• Apply for an enhanced DBS check – it must be this DBS from Matrix which is home-based.

It is strongly recommended you put the DBS on the update service for year 1, in case the Ofsted paperwork process takes longer than 3 months (which is very likely to be the case).

• Notify Ofsted that you want to take on a new assistant – you must use this ‘report new people in the setting’ form to inform them.
• Follow the safer recruitment procedures set out in your safer recruitment policy.

Note that, from September 2025, you must request a reference for your assistant before they start their employment (see below). You must also, as part of safer recruitment and what Ofsted call the ‘culture of safeguarding’ in their inspection handbook (09.24), ensure they are safe and suitable before they are allowed contact with the children.

• Wait for the Ofsted suitability letter. You must not allow your assistant to be in ratio or unsupervised with children until Ofsted has completed their checks and send them a ‘suitability letter’ – see EYFS requirement 3.13, ‘Childminders must not allow anyone whose suitability has not been checked by Ofsted … including through a criminal records check, to have unsupervised contact with the children being cared for.’
• Deliver induction training for your assistant to ensure they are trained for their roles and responsibilities.
• Set up payroll through the HMRC website and offer a pension - the NEST pension scheme is one option.

This is a brief overview of how to take on an assistant in a childminding setting. The links will support you with what steps you need to take, to ensure anyone working with children is safe and suitable.

More about safer recruitment - England

From Sept 1st, 2025, the EYFS will state that providers, including childminders, must have a safer recruitment policy. DfE has confirmed to Childcare.co.uk that if childminders have no intention of having an assistant, then they don't need the policy in writing because DfE don't want to add to the paperwork burden for childminders. This has been confirmed by Ofsted during a recent Foundation Years webinar on the YouTube channel.

If you want / need a policy and you are a Childcare.co.uk gold member the policy is written for you on the safeguarding policies page of the website.

I also note that Ofsted inspectors are 'future proofing' registration inspections by asking childminder applicants about safer recruitment procedures. There is guidance on 'employing an assistant' here on the Childcare.co.uk registration inspection page for childminders registering with Ofsted.

Upcoming changes for September

What changes are childminders making to prepare for September? We asked some of our childminder members. September is typically a time of reflection, when childminders revisit their contracts, fees policies, terms and conditions etc and think about how they want to work during the year ahead.

Some of the changes our members are making include:

• Asking parents to review their emergency contacts and provide new ones if needed.
• Increasing private fees for all age ranges.
• Stopping giving children a mid-morning snack.
• Asking parents to provide packed lunches – however, there are concerns about the quality of food parents might send and how that will be perceived by Ofsted.
• Reviewing what food they offer children and sharing more information with parents about healthy options.
• Starting to charge for outings – or not going on outings that cost money.
• Stopping caring for children over the age of 3 years – mostly due to lower funding rates for pre-school children.
• Updating safeguarding policies ready for the revised EYFS.
• Cutting days / hours to get a better work-life balance.
• Starting to record accounts using a MTD compatible system to prepare for reporting changes.

Focus on school readiness

The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson announced recently, 'We've got to transform school readiness in our country.' She set out a plan to set statutory targets for councils while launching a RISE tool to help schools target support for those children who need it the most. She also talked about creating local partnerships for better outcomes. Many early years providers note that she missed the importance of play from her messaging and hope that will be rectified in due course.

Childcare.co.uk has planned a ‘School readiness 2025’ webinar for August 2025. In this webinar, we will explore the different school readiness expectations placed on early years providers.

Before the webinar, it might be useful to look at some of the documents around school readiness that are available for early years providers. I note that school readiness is a contentious term. It has been used to describe readiness for year 1 (because reception is still in the early years) and readiness for reception (because that’s when children start school).

The Early Years Foundation Stage (07.25) states that one of its aims is to promote, ‘Teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.’

Ofsted reframed school readiness some years ago in their early years inspection handbook (09.24) to, ‘How well children are developing in the prime and specific areas of learning that help them to be ready for their next stage of education, including school.’

Ofsted also published a report, ‘Are you ready? Good practice in school readiness’ (04.14). While this is an older report it does contain some useful information.

The Kindred2 school readiness survey (2024) raised issues about whether children are ready to start school including feedback from teachers. The Govt are attempting to address some of the concerns with their ‘Best start in life’ strategy (07.25) which aims to improve the quality of education and care that children receive in early years settings.

Some useful resources include –

• The ‘Starting reception’ website for parents. Early years providers can use the information to support their own understanding of what teachers want children to be able to do when they start school.
• ‘School readiness matters’ – a free download from a group of early years experts, hosted on the TACTYC website.
• Childcare.co.uk has resources to support early years providers including a useful blog.
• Childcare.co.uk also has some guides for gold members, which they can use to track children’s progress towards school readiness and support parents at home.
• Childcare.co.uk has also published a useful ‘Being school ready’ blog which you can read here.

RICHARD TO ADD THE LINK.

The ‘School readiness 2025’ webinar will be delivered on Tuesday 26th August 2025 at 7pm. Webinars are free on the night they are presented and recorded for Childcare.co.uk gold members to watch again.

National minimum wage risks

If you are an assistant on national minimum wage or if you are a childminder who pays an assistant national minimum wage, you must be aware of the following national minimum wage underpayment risks.

This applies to anyone, from April 1st 2025, age 17 years on £7.55 / hour, age 18-20 years on £10 / hour and age 21+ on £12.21 / hour. It also applies to apprentices on £7.55 / hour.

• Starting earlier than or finishing later than your shift – even by a few extra minutes.
• Staying late for a staff meeting.
• Being required to pay for your DBS check.
• Buying toys with a promise of reimbursement that doesn’t happen.
• Buying your own uniform – for example, black shoes or certain clothes.
• Attending evening or weekend training.
• Being asked to drive children and not receiving payment for fuel and extra insurance costs.
• Traveling to a training venue from the setting (not from home).
• Studying for Ofsted inspection out of work hours.
• Time spent completing the statutory 12 hours paediatric first aid.

The basic HMRC rule is that, if an employer requires a national minimum wage employee to do something, be somewhere or buy something, then the time must be paid. You can find more information and free, impartial advice on the ACAS website.

If you have been paid incorrectly, HMRC compliance checks can go back and investigate up to 6 years.

Ofsted inspection focus points 07.25

We know from reading inspection reports that Ofsted inspectors are currently focusing on –

• Curriculum consistency – how well you sequence for different children so they are building on what they already know and can do.
• Health and safety – especially if there are hazards around the place that haven’t been addressed.
• Interactions with children – talking slowly and clearly, listening carefully so you don’t miss a child’s attempt at interaction, ensuring ‘lost’ children on the periphery of the room are given equal opportunities to communicate and giving children time to think after asking a question.
• Emotional regulation – how you teach children about their emotions and how to take a breath and get back to their learning.
• Safeguarding – a ‘culture’ of safeguarding that runs through everything you do as well as knowing what to do if you have a concern about a child, staff member or other adult in the household.

Giving every child the best start in life strategy

DfE published their ‘Giving every child the best start in life’ strategy on 7th July. The aim is to bring together early years and family services, putting children's first years at the heart of work to improve life chances, building on the ‘Plan for Change’ commitments and introducing further reforms including expanding and strengthening family services, making early education and childcare more accessible and affordable, and improving the quality of early education and childcare to make real change and deliver stronger outcomes for our children, our families and our society. It also sets out a vision for long term reform.

The DfE has stated that they will work in partnership with the sector, listening to the voices of children and their families, and co-designing solutions with those who work most closely with young babies and children.

Maths in summer

Maths is everywhere – all around us. We can support children’s maths learning with some easy summer fun activities –

• Learn about distance, speed and time when you are on a journey to the park.
• Measure the plants in your garden – are they growing?
• Make some new summer playdough together and weigh and measure.
• Play a dice game and subitise the patterns on the faces.
• Set out the water play with spoons and cups and learn about capacity.
• Collect sunflower seeds and dry them – how long does it take?
• Play hopscotch and count the numbers as you jump and hop.
• Spot numbers on gates on your way to the park.
• Set up a daily maths challenge in the messy tray.
• Put out the sand and learn about weight.
• Paint butterflies and explore symmetry.
• Track the lifecycle of a flower and learn more about birth, growth, decay and death.
• Play a card game and look closely at the shapes and numbers.
• Collect wildflowers on an outing and count petals.

Childcare.co.uk gold members will find a summer planning guide packed full of activity ideas for your early years children on the Childcare.co.uk group planning page.

What are your favourite maths games in summer? Share with your colleagues on the Independent Childminders Facebook group.

Childcare Register training

If you want to register as a new childminder on the Childcare Register, you need to do compulsory and voluntary register training first. Childcare.co.uk has courses to support you and you can join as a gold member to complete the courses.

There is also a sample safeguarding policy for older children on the safeguarding policies page of the website. This is essential to show you are compliant with the requirements of the compulsory register.

Emergency contacts from Sept 2025

There are lots of questions coming through from childminders about the rules from Sept 2025 in the revised EYFS about emergency contacts. The EYFS from Sept 1st states, ' Where possible, settings should hold more than two emergency contact numbers for each child.'

This has been changed due to safeguarding and serious case review findings where children have died and is also linked to the new absence / attendance policy requirements.

It means asking parents difficult questions – for example, what do they want to happen to their child if they die while they are in your care? Who should you contact if they fail to arrive with their child?

They might be able to give you UK contacts or relatives from abroad; they might only have social care as the option. It should be recorded and signed / dated.

If you use the Childcare.co.uk emergency contact form, there are spaces to record extra emergency contacts.

Group planning for August

What do you have planned for the children during August?

In many childminder settings, there are older children as well as little ones, due to the school holidays. Childcare.co.uk has published a special ‘6 weeks of summer fun’ guide for gold members, in addition to the usual monthly planning guide.

There are activity ideas for every week of the school holidays that you can dip into when there’s a lull in your usual daily routines, outings and adventures.

Upcoming webinars for your professional development

Childcare.co.uk has the following webinars planned for September 2025 –

• 9th – Are you ready for the EYFS from September 2025?
  A quick overview of the EYFS changes for anyone who has missed them!
• 16th – Are you ready for safeguarding from September 2025?
  A look at how safeguarding during inspection will change from September.
• 23rd – Parents and Ofsted inspection.
  This webinar has been rescheduled from May and will discuss the important role of parents before and during Ofsted inspection.
• 30th – Slow pedagogy.
  This webinar will reflect on how slowing things down benefits children.

All webinars are presented at 7pm and can be booked and accessed directly from this link.

We hope you have found this newsletter interesting and informative. Members tell us it’s useful to have all the latest information and news in one place, so they can refer back to it through the months. If you have any suggestions for articles or blogs you would like us to publish, please let us know.