Early years glossary

Updated 4 November 2026, checked against the EYFS frameworks in force from 1 September 2026 and current Ofsted and DfE guidance. For England.

Allergy action plan

A plan agreed with parents, and health professionals where needed, for managing a child’s known allergies. The EYFS (3.66) says providers must develop and keep them up to date and share them with all staff.

Attendance policy

A policy the EYFS requires from September 2026 (3.12), shared with parents, setting out how to report absences and what the setting does when a child is absent without notice or for a long time. See EYFS policies list.

Chargeable extras (consumables)

Optional charges such as meals, nappies or trips that settings offering funded hours may make. DfE’s guidance says they should be published and can’t be a condition of taking up funded hours. See Publishing chargeable extras.

Childcare Register (CR, GCR)

Ofsted’s register for childcare for children aged 5 to 7 (compulsory part) and for older children or exempt childcare (voluntary part), alongside the Early Years Register.

Childcare on domestic premises

An Ofsted registration type for 5 or more people looking after children mostly or always in someone’s home.

Childcare on non-domestic premises

The Ofsted registration type for nurseries, pre-schools, holiday clubs and other group settings that aren’t in someone’s home. There were 27,900 on 31 March 2026. See How to open a nursery.

Childminder

A registered person who looks after other people’s children for payment, at home or on other premises, with up to 3 others working with them. They can care for up to 6 children under 8, no more than 3 of them young children. See How to become a childminder.

Childminder agency (CMA)

An organisation registered with Ofsted that registers and quality-assures childminders, as an alternative to registering with Ofsted directly.

DBS check

A criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. Childcare roles need an enhanced check with the children’s barred list; everyone 16 or over living or working in a childminder’s home needs one too.

Designated safeguarding lead (DSL)

The practitioner who takes lead responsibility for safeguarding and liaises with children’s services and the Local Safeguarding Partners (EYFS 3.4). A childminder is their own DSL.

Disability access fund (DAF)

A yearly payment to providers for each eligible child receiving Disability Living Allowance and taking up funded hours, to support access and inclusion. See Early years funding 2026 to 2027.

Early learning for 2-year-olds (EL2)

15 funded hours a week for 2-year-olds from families receiving certain support, previously called the disadvantaged 2-year-old offer. 85,600 children were registered in January 2026.

Early years foundation stage (EYFS)

The statutory framework every Ofsted-registered early years provider and school in England must follow from birth to 5. The current versions for group settings and for childminders came into force on 1 September 2026. See The EYFS framework 2026.

Early years pupil premium (EYPP)

Extra funding providers get for eligible children taking up funded hours, paid per hour up to a yearly limit. See Early years funding 2026 to 2027.

Early Years Register (EYR)

Ofsted’s register for providers caring for children from birth to 31 August after their fifth birthday. Providers on it must meet the EYFS.

Evaluation areas

The areas Ofsted grades separately on an early years report card, such as inclusion, curriculum and teaching, achievement, behaviour, welfare, and leadership and governance. See Ofsted grades explained.

Experience-based route

A way for staff without a full and relevant level 3 qualification to be approved to count in ratios at level 3, based on their experience. No more than half of a setting’s level 3 staff can be counted this way. See EYFS ratios.

Funded hours (free childcare)

Government-funded early education: the universal 15 hours for all 3 and 4-year-olds, the working parent entitlement of up to 30 hours from 9 months, and early learning for 2-year-olds. Usually 38 weeks a year. See Early years funding 2026 to 2027.

Key person

The member of staff assigned to each child to tailor their care, help them settle, offer a settled relationship and build a relationship with their parents (EYFS 3.42). See The EYFS key person.

Local Safeguarding Partners

The local authority, police and health partners who set local safeguarding arrangements. EYFS policies should follow their procedures.

Nominated individual (NI)

The person an organisation names in its Ofsted registration to deal with the registration and oversee the management of the setting.

Paediatric first aid (PFA)

First aid training for babies and young children. At least one person with a current full PFA certificate must be on the premises and on outings at all times; certificates are renewed every 3 years.

Progress check at age two

A short written summary of a child’s development in the prime areas, which practitioners must give parents when the child is between 2 and 3 (EYFS 2.6).

Ratios (staff to child ratios)

The minimum staff for the number of children: in group settings 1:3 under 2s, 1:5 for 2-year-olds, and 1:8 or 1:13 for 3-year-olds and over. See EYFS ratios.

Registration visit

Ofsted’s visit before granting registration on the Early Years Register, to check suitability, the premises and the applicant’s understanding of the EYFS and safeguarding.

Report card

Ofsted’s inspection result format since November 2025, grading several evaluation areas on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement instead of one overall grade. See Ofsted report cards.

Safer sleep

The EYFS rules for children under 2 at paragraph 3.86 since September 2026: on their back, in their own sleep space, babies 12 months and under in a cot, and frequent checks. See EYFS safer sleep.

SENCO

Special educational needs co-ordinator. Maintained schools and nursery schools must have one; other group providers are expected to name one (EYFS 3.77).

SEND

Special educational needs and disabilities. Early years providers must have arrangements to support children with SEND, and funded providers must have regard to the SEND code of practice.

Stretched hours

Funded hours spread across more than 38 weeks a year, for example about 22 hours a week over 51 weeks instead of 30 hours a week in term time.

Tax-Free Childcare

A government top-up for working parents: £2 for every £8 they pay in, up to £2,000 a year per child (£4,000 for a disabled child), usable with registered childcare.

Universal entitlement

15 funded hours a week, 38 weeks a year, for every 3 and 4-year-old in England, whatever their parents’ circumstances.

URN

Unique reference number. The number Ofsted gives each registered setting, shown on its certificate and inspection reports.

Working parent entitlement

Up to 30 funded hours a week, 38 weeks a year, for eligible working parents of children from 9 months to school age, fully rolled out since September 2025. See Early years funding 2026 to 2027.

Numbers behind these terms: early years statistics 2026. More guides: all our guides.