The EYFS statutory framework 2026, in plain English
Short answer: the current EYFS frameworks are dated 13 July 2026 and have applied since 1 September 2026. There are two: one for childminders and one for group and school-based providers. Each has three sections: learning and development, assessment, and safeguarding and welfare. You can download both free from GOV.UK.
Updated 29 October 2026, checked against both framework documents. For England. A guide, not legal advice: the frameworks are the final word.
Which version is yours?
| You are | Use |
|---|---|
| A registered childminder, at home or on other premises | Framework for childminders (PDF) |
| A day nursery, pre-school, playgroup, school nursery or reception class | Framework for group and school-based providers (PDF) |
What changed in September 2026 is in its own guide: EYFS changes from September 2026. In short, the changes were to safeguarding and welfare, and the learning and development requirements stayed the same.
The three sections
- Learning and development. The seven areas of learning and what you must teach in each, set out as educational programmes, plus the early learning goals.
- Assessment. Ongoing observation, the progress check at age two, and the EYFS Profile at the end of reception.
- Safeguarding and welfare. Child protection, staff suitability and qualifications, ratios, the key person, health, safer sleep, premises, and the information you must keep and share.
The seven areas of learning
Prime areas, which matter most for learning and building relationships:
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Personal, social and emotional development
Specific areas, which strengthen the prime areas:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
The early learning goals describe where children should be by the end of reception. Practitioners working with children below reception age don’t need to use them, and they’re not a curriculum.
Staff to child ratios
For group and school-based providers. Ratios apply across the whole setting, not room by room.
| Age | Ratio | Qualifications |
|---|---|---|
| Under two | 1 : 3 | At least one level 3, half of the others level 2, half of all staff trained in caring for babies |
| Two-year-olds | 1 : 5 | At least one level 3, half of the others level 2 |
| Three and over | 1 : 8 | At least one level 3, half of the others level 2 |
| Three and over, teacher working with the children | 1 : 13 | A person with QTS, EYTS or EYPS, plus at least one other at level 3 |
Childminders can care for up to six children under eight, including their own. No more than three can be young children, and there should only be one under one. There are exceptions, such as siblings or continuity of care.
What you must share with parents
Section 3 of the group framework lists what providers must share with parents and carers. Your website is the easiest place to do most of it:
- How you deliver the EYFS, and where parents can find out more
- The activities and experiences you offer, your daily routine, and how parents can carry on learning at home
- How you support children with special educational needs and disabilities
- The food and drinks you provide
- Your policies and procedures, including what happens if a parent doesn’t collect their child or a child goes missing
- How your staffing is organised
- The name of each child’s key person and what they do
- A phone number parents can use in an emergency
You must also tell parents how to contact Ofsted, or your childminder agency, if they think you aren’t meeting the EYFS, and send them a copy of your report after an inspection. For the full list of what belongs on a setting’s website, see what a nursery website must include.
Childminders: your framework says your certificate of registration can be displayed digitally, for example on your website. A small childminder website is a good home for it.
Questions
Is there a new EYFS framework for 2026?
Yes. DfE published new versions of both frameworks on 13 July 2026 and they came into force on 1 September 2026. They replace the earlier versions, so policies should now refer to the September 2026 frameworks.
Which EYFS framework do I use?
Registered childminders, with or without domestic premises, use the framework for childminders. Nurseries, pre-schools, school nursery classes and reception use the framework for group and school-based providers.
What are the seven areas of learning in the EYFS?
Three prime areas: communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development. Four specific areas: literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design.
What are the EYFS ratios for under-twos?
In group settings, at least one member of staff for every three children aged under two. For two-year-olds it is one to five, and for three and over it is one to eight, or one to thirteen when a teacher or equivalent is working directly with the children.
How many children can a childminder look after?
Up to six children under eight, including their own. Of those, no more than three may be young children (until 31 August after their fifth birthday), and there should only be one child under one, with some exceptions such as siblings.
Can a childminder put their Ofsted certificate on their website?
Yes. The childminder framework says the certificate of registration can be displayed digitally, for example on a childminder’s website, and must be made available to parents on request.
Sources
- Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework, DfE, GOV.UK
- Framework for group and school-based providers, dated 13 July 2026, paragraphs 1.4–1.10, 3.47–3.51 and 3.100–3.103
- Framework for childminders, dated 13 July 2026, paragraphs 3.49–3.54 and 3.103
- Help for early years providers, DfE
More guides: all our guides for nurseries, childminders and schools.
Does your website tell parents what the EYFS asks?
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