Early Years News October 2026

Welcome to your Childcare.co.uk newsletter. As we tidy the gardens and collect autumn treasures ready for the cooler months ahead, let's dive into the latest news and updates for early years providers:

DfE - EYFS changes

You need to know about the EYFS changes from 1 September 2026. There are some smaller but significant changes that you should review because they will mean you need to update the Safeguarding Policy. Ofsted are focusing their inspections on the safer sleep updates from 1 September 2026, the safer eating and weaning updates from the EYFS 1 September 2025 update.

Childcare.co.uk has a blog which lists all the changes to the EYFS.

Ofsted - inspection changes

You need to know about the Ofsted early years inspection changes from 1 September 2026. Childcare.co.uk has a blog which lists all the changes. There is also a recorded Ofsted inspection changes webinar from 1 September which answers frequently asked questions and provides further support.

DfE - information sharing guidance update

DfE updated its information sharing guidance on 10 September 2026. The guidance is now statutory (not advisory) and has been updated to reflect that the Information Sharing Duty under section 16LA of the Children Act 2004 comes into force on 30 September 2026. The guidance has undergone some major changes and explains what organisations and practitioners must do to comply with the information sharing duty. This includes placing well-being and safety together as primary concerns in any information sharing conversation and removing barriers around data protection, parent permission before sharing and more.

Childcare.co.uk has added a blog about the main change to the information sharing guidance on the website. There is also a free quick reference guide.

DfE - Inclusive Early Years Fund (IEYF)

The Government has allocated £47 million additional funding for 2026-27, aimed at helping settings become more inclusive for children with SEND, including adapting environments, training staff and supporting interventions. It is called the Inclusive Early Years Fund (IEYF).

The funding will be provided to local authorities in England to help early years settings improve inclusion for children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities). The funding can support things such as:

• Adapting the physical environment.
• Buying specialist or accessible equipment.
• Staff training and development.
• Developing inclusive practice.
• Making changes that help children with additional needs participate more fully.

The aim is to ensure every setting is accessible and inclusive, rather than relying on adaptations when a child arrives. The application process and eligibility can vary locally, so you should speak to your Local Authority for more information and eligibility criteria for your setting. DfE has published guidance for local authorities.

EEF - boost children's development

New research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has identified 3 programmes that boost children's development, stating they deliver meaningful change in a cost-effective way:

• NELI (Nuffield Early Language Intervention) Preschool: a 20-week oral language programme for 3-4-year-old children, centred around shared storybook reading and guided play.
• Talking Time: an intervention that aims to improve the oral language skills of children aged 3-5 years old through structured activities for children and professional development for staff.
• Emotion Coaching: a professional development programme for early years practitioners that aims to help 3–4-year-old children develop self-regulation.

Childcare.co.uk will commission free webinars on these to support providers' professional development in the new year.

DfE - early years funding changes for 2026–27

There are some changes you need to be aware of noted in the DfE published guidance to early years funding. The minimum local-authority pass-through increased from 96% to 97% in April 2026 and there are changes around termly funding and the Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF). You should speak to your Local Authority funding team for more information.

From 1 October 2026, childminders should be able to request to receive their funded early years entitlement payments monthly. This means that local authorities will need to offer monthly payment arrangements to providers who request them. The payment schedule and exact payment process and dates will be set locally, so childminders should check their local authority's provider guidance. For example, some authorities are already publishing monthly schedules for childminders and others are asking childminders who want to be paid monthly to contact them for more information.

Funding - more information about SENIF

SENIF (Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund) is local authority funding in England intended to support early years providers when they have children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who need additional support beyond what the setting would normally be expected to provide from its existing resources.

SENIF can potentially help with things such as:

• Additional staffing and support for the child.
• Specialist resources or equipment.
• Adaptations to the learning environment.
• Interventions or targeted support.
• Staff training linked to a child's needs.

The application process is managed by your local authority and might include, for example, online applications, termly applications, panel processes, or more flexible applications. Early years childminders and settings should check their local SENIF criteria, application form and deadlines. Evidence may be required to demonstrate the child's needs and the support already being provided.

DBS service - reducing fees

The DBS service has announced it is reducing fees for checks and the update service from 5 October 2026. The DBS service reviews fees annually to offer the most cost-effective service for providers.

DfE - Prevent Duty update 08.2026

The Prevent Duty statutory guidance has been updated for September 2026. DfE has released a factsheet summary of the changes including guidance on the evolving nature of the threat of terrorism. It confirms the national threat level remains severe and it notes that a significant proportion of referrals now involve people who do not have a clearly defined ideology. Providers will find this a useful read for their professional development.

DfE - Early Years Census / data requirements

The Autumn 2026 Early Years Census takes place on Thursday 1 October, with census week beginning 28 September. Providers should make sure their records are accurate and up to date for all children accessing funded early education ready to complete the census.

The DfE has updated the 2026-27 census guidance, so it's worth checking the latest requirements with your local authority and reviewing your setting's census arrangements ahead of the return. You will need to make sure your records are accurate for census week, including things such as:

• Funded child details and date of birth.
• Funded entitlement information and hours.
• EYPP eligibility.
• SEND information.
• Attendance information.
• Information about children accessing funding across more than one setting.

Completion of the Early Years Census data collection form for funded children is a statutory requirement and this applies to all early years providers.

DfE - safeguarding update

Operational changes to 'Working together to safeguard children' might impact your practice. DfE has included a Working together update page which is useful as a quick overview.

Childcare.co.uk gold members can also re-watch the Childcare.co.uk Working Together Sept 2026 webinar. The recorded webinar includes a walk-through of the main changes, the impact they might have on your setting and ways of working and answers your questions.

Practice - the evolving nature of safeguarding

During recent safeguarding training, we advised members to look beyond their policy and to reflect on how they put the policy into day-to-day practice. Of course, it is important to have an updated Safeguarding Policy available to share with parents but knowing how to put the policy into practice is key to keeping children safer.

Annual updates to documents such as the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS, 'Working together to safeguard children' and 'Keeping children safe in education' are reminders of the ever-evolving threats linked to safeguarding. For example, DfE changed the wording 'serious harm' to 'harm' in the EYFS 2026 - we need to notice and report more; 'Working together' has a section on keeping unborn and non-mobile babies safer - we need to be more alert to concerns; DfE has revised wording around recruitment in the EYFS 2026 - we must ensure anyone who works with children is safe.

Best practice advice is to stay updated - do the training, read the blogs, review your procedures, check the audits etc. These steps will help you to stay up to date and confident ready for inspection.

Childcare.co.uk provides members with regular safeguarding refresher webinars.

Gov.uk - employment law changes for 2027

If you employ an assistant or have staff in your early years setting you will need to prepare for further employment law changes which are due in January 2027. The changes relate to unfair dismissal, the right to written reasons for dismissal and the cap on unfair dismissal compensation which is being removed. There are further changes which are still under consultation and will be reported on during 2027. Childcare.co.uk has published a blog with the main points.

Ofsted - 2026 inspection changes

It's too early to say whether the September 2026 changes to the Ofsted early years inspection framework have led to a shift in inspection report outcomes. However, there are already quite a few reports on the system from early inspections of nurseries and childminders and it's worth looking at areas where Ofsted are more explicitly making comments and clearly evaluating areas that perhaps weren't as much of a focus as previously including, for example:

• Safer sleeping arrangements - effective or not.
• Safer eating and weaning - compliant or not.
• Practitioners recognise their responsibilities for protecting children from harm - or don't.
• The relationship between care practices and safeguarding are highlighted - poor or secure.

One of the big changes to the Ofsted inspection framework from 1 September 2026 was the expectation to meet the EYFS requirements as well as Ofsted's grading standards in order to achieve the 'Expected standard' grade. That could potentially produce a shift in outcomes in the future, especially in 'Children's welfare and wellbeing' and 'Leadership and governance', even where the educational provision itself is strong. Childcare.co.uk will continue to monitor report outcomes to provide members with reflection points to use before their own inspections.

Practice - updating your Safeguarding Policy

Have your policies been updated to reflect the revised EYFS safeguarding requirements? Your policy should have been ready for 1st September to share with parents, but sometimes life gets in the way. Check your Local Authority website - they might have an updated safeguarding policy that you can adapt. Alternatively, Childcare.co.uk gold members can access a model Safeguarding Policy on the website.

Ofsted inspection focuses on knowledge into practice - not just that you and any assistants / staff are aware of the changes, but that the updates are being followed in practice. For example, the EYFS 2025 states that childminders need to know 'how' to contact safeguarding in an emergency - the EYFS 2026 has added 'and when' to the requirement. This seemingly small change to the wording has big implications for inspection. It is not enough to know that your setting's policy includes the Local Authority phone numbers - you will need to be able to confidently explain when you might need to make the call to, for example, the safeguarding partners or local authority designated officer.

Note the Childcare.co.uk model policy has been updated twice - the first time to reflect changes to the EYFS for September 2026 and the second time to reflect changes to DfE information sharing statutory guidance around consent.

Practice - record keeping

A quick reminder to keep child records and information accurate and up to date. For example, make sure parents have signed to confirm funding for this term and if your local authority tells you that a child's funding code is about to expire, you need to remind parents or the code will not work when you go into your portal to update information for the next term.

The EYFS 2026 update also specifically requires you to ensure accuracy when recording safeguarding information - dates, times, who said what etc. This should be standard, of course - but DfE has updated the wording in the EYFS 2026 wording for a reason. Historically, the usual reasons for EYFS updates like this are because Ofsted has noted concerns about lack of accuracy in safeguarding documentation during early years inspections. This change also reflects updated wording in Working together to safeguard children 09.2026.

Practice - safer sleep

The whole staff team should have received safer sleep training, covering the main information about the changes in the EYFS 2026. Childcare.co.uk gold members can access a recorded Safer Sleep 2026 webinar about the changes.

You should check that your safer-sleep practice, staff knowledge and documentation all match the updated EYFS requirements. You should also review sleep spaces to ensure cots, mats and bedding meet the new requirements. Ofsted has added safer sleep to their early years inspection toolkit and stated that it will be an inspection focus point. Also note that babies and children must be in sight and hearing when sleeping - you might need to review your monitoring arrangements.

Childcare.co.uk has a safer sleep updates page with all the latest clarifications in one place for easy access.

Ofsted - new blog on 'inspection without notice'

Ofsted keep their frequently asked questions blog regularly updated with latest information, often in response to practitioner questions.

The latest link is to a new blog (linked from question 18) which addresses questions about when and why Ofsted might carry out an inspection without notice and what they will do during the inspection.

EYFS - DBS checks for volunteers

The definition of regulated activity with children in England, Northern Ireland and Wales has changed, meaning that some people who were previously exempt may now qualify for an Enhanced DBS check with a Children's Barred List check.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has published a news story addressing common misconceptions about the removal of the supervision exemption for regulated activity with children effective from 1 September 2026. The removal of the supervision exemption does not mean every role involving working with children becomes regulated activity. The DBS states that organisations should continue to consider the nature of the activity, how often it is carried out and any other relevant criteria set out in DBS eligibility guidance. If you have a volunteer in your setting and you are unsure whether they need a DBS check or not, we suggest you ask Ofsted for further advice.

DfE - allergy legislation for schools

Benedict's Law has been introduced for all schools in England from September 2026. Benedict's Law is not currently a statutory requirement for early years providers and has not been included as a link in the EYFS 2026 updates - but the new legislation does include references to early years throughout.

Childcare.co.uk has updated its Allergy awareness for early years providers page to include further guidance on Benedict's Law including useful information about where it links to EYFS 2025 changes about how allergies are managed in early years settings.

We know that safer eating and weaning will be focus points during Ofsted inspection, so it's important to ensure you have evidence ready to share with your inspector and update parent forms / notifications about children's allergies, intolerances and special dietary requirements regularly.

Scotland - funding changes

The Scottish Government has announced an expansion of funded childcare including a roadmap to 'transform national childcare into a year-round offer' for children aged 9 months to the end of primary school. This includes expanding early years and wraparound care with primary school breakfast clubs and an additional £13.4 million to support the private voluntary and independent childcare sector and childminders.

Settings and childminders are still waiting for more detail about how this additional funding will be allocated.

Scotland - safer recruitment self-evaluation tool

The Care Inspectorate has released a dedicated Safer Recruitment Self-evaluation tool to help registered providers strengthen their recruitment processes across 3 areas:

• Vetting and compliance.
• Onboarding and induction.
• Inspection readiness.

Wales - National Minimum Standards changes

Care Inspectorate Wales and the Welsh Government have introduced updated National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare, covering settings and childminders caring for children up to 12 years of age. The website includes printable versions of all the pages and notes that key updates focus on safer recruitment, digital safety, safer sleep, assistant monitoring and child ratios.

Wales - funding expansion

The Welsh Government is continuing to expand its early years childcare offer by gradually introducing 20 hours of funded childcare per week, for 48 weeks a year, for all children aged 9 months to 4 years. In 2026, it provided an additional £55 million to speed up the rollout, with a particular focus on giving all two-year-olds access to 12.5 hours of funded childcare. By March 2027, all 22 local authorities are expected to offer this to two-year-olds. The Government is also investing in childcare settings, workforce planning and Welsh-medium provision to make sure there is enough high-quality childcare available.

Monthly group planning for October 2026

This year, Childcare.co.uk monthly group planning is focusing on special days through the month, to build a planning library which can be archived and used in the years ahead.

Always bear in mind that planning should start with the child and what they already know and can do. In most early years settings, a 'book as a hook' is used to spark curiosity and discussions, with lots of open-ended questions to promote critical thinking. Planning can then be delivered at the appropriate age and stage level for the children in the setting at the time.

The themes for October 2026 in the Childcare.co.uk group planning guide cover:

• Underpinning theme - Autumn.
• Week 1 - Grandparents Day (4th).
• Week 2 - Autumn and nature.
• Week 3 - Apple Day (21st).
• Week 4 - Halloween (31st).

Webinars for October 2026

Childcare.co.uk delivers free weekly webinars for all early years providers. The webinars are then recorded for Childcare.co.uk gold members to watch again at their own convenience.

Webinars planned for October 2026 cover:

• 1st - Executive function outside
• 8th - Safeguarding refresher - progression
• 15th - Holiday
• 22nd - Circle time planning

More information and resources

Childminder Guides

Childminder Paperwork

Childminder Policies

Childminder Organiser

Childminder Diary

Childminder e-books

Childminder Budget Planner

Safeguarding Quick References Cards

COEL Quick Reference Cards

Health & Safety Toolkit

Information Sheets for Parents

Early Years Safety Blog

Activities Ideas & Resources

Childminder Insurance
 

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