New EYFS Statutory Framework Published

New EYFS Statutory Framework Published

Ofsted has published the latest version of the EYFS Statutory Framework. The new edition contains some significant changes, following a consultation which took place earlier this year. They are aimed at reducing some of the regulatory burden on the sector, hopefully making recruitment and expansion easier ahead of the expanded entitlement that is due to begin in 2024. 

There are twenty changes that will come into force on 4th January. Perhaps the most significant of which is the creation of a separate framework for childminders, which includes major amendments to the EYFS Profile, including the remove of the reception baseline assessment, as well as moving the Early Learning Goals to an annex. These changes in particular are intended to address Childminders’ concerns about their regulatory burden, while still requiring high professional standards. 

Other changes include the decision to remove the requirement that all Level 3 practitioners must hold at least a Level 2 qualification in Maths to count towards staff:child ratios. This will now only be required of managers of group and school-based providers. Combined with permission to include apprentices and students in ratios, at the level below that of their current studies, is evidently hoped to ease some of the difficulties in recruiting sufficient staff. Childminders will also be permitted to count their kitchens towards space requirements. 

These are not the only changes and clarifications, and providers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the new framework at the earliest opportunity. Although scrutinising regulatory documentation is probably not everyone’s favourite holiday activity, it can at least be done over a mince pie and a mug of cocoa! 

You can read the new EYFS framework for childminders here. 

And the new framework for group or school based providers here.