EYFS policies list 2026
Short answer: the EYFS framework in force from 1 September 2026 names 10 policies and procedures: safeguarding, whistleblowing, attendance, illness and infection, medicines, emergency evacuation, visitors, uncollected children, missing children and complaints. Group settings must write them down (paragraph 3.5). Childminders must have them and be able to explain them, but don’t have to write them down, apart from sharing their attendance policy.
Updated 4 November 2026, checked against both EYFS frameworks in force from 1 September 2026. Paragraph numbers are from the group framework. For England. A guide, not legal advice: the framework is the final word.
The 10 policies and procedures the EYFS names
| Policy or procedure | Paragraph | What it must cover |
|---|---|---|
| Safeguarding policy and procedures | 3.5 to 3.6 | What you do when you’re worried about a child; what happens if an allegation is made against a member of staff; how mobile phones, cameras and other devices that take and share images are used; how you check new recruits are suitable; and how safeguarding training is delivered and put into practice. In line with your Local Safeguarding Partners’ procedures. |
| Whistleblowing procedure | 3.7 | How all staff, including students and volunteers, raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice: when and how to report, and what happens after they do. Staff must know it exists and feel able to use it. |
| Attendance policy | 3.12 | Shared with parents. What parents must do to report an absence, and what you’ll do if a child is absent without notice or for a long time, such as following your safeguarding procedures and ringing emergency contacts. |
| Illness and infection procedure | 3.60 | What you do if a child is ill or infectious, and how you stop infection spreading. It must be discussed with parents. |
| Administering medicines policy | 3.61 to 3.62 | How you find out about and keep up to date a child’s need for medicines, staff training where it needs medical knowledge, written parental permission for each medicine, a written record every time, and telling parents the same day. |
| Emergency evacuation procedure | 3.81 | What happens in a fire or other emergency, alongside working fire detection equipment and clear, unobstructed fire exits. |
| Visitors procedure | 3.89 | An agreed procedure for checking visitors’ identity, plus steps to stop unauthorised people getting in and to release children only to people parents have named. |
| Uncollected child procedure | 3.100 | What happens if a parent doesn’t collect their child at the agreed time. The framework names it as one of the procedures parents must be told about. |
| Missing child procedure | 3.100 | What happens if a child goes missing at the setting or away from it, for example on an outing. Also named in the information for parents. |
| Complaints procedure | 3.101 | Written, for group settings. Investigate written complaints about how you meet the EYFS, tell the person the outcome within 28 days, keep a record of every complaint and its outcome, and show the record to Ofsted if asked. |
Paragraph 3.5 adds the general rule: providers must have and implement policies and procedures to keep children safe and meet the EYFS, and these should follow the procedures of your Local Safeguarding Partners. Your local authority’s early years team usually publishes local templates and contacts.
The other things you must have arrangements for
The framework doesn’t call these policies, but it sets rules you’ll need to explain to staff, parents and inspectors. Most settings write each one up.
- SEND (3.77). You must have arrangements to support children with special educational needs and disabilities. Group settings are expected to name a SENCO, and funded settings must have regard to the SEND code of practice.
- Behaviour (3.74 to 3.76). You’re responsible for supporting and managing behaviour, must never give or threaten corporal punishment, and must record any physical intervention and tell parents the same day.
- Food, allergies and choking (3.63 to 3.71). Dietary needs and allergies collected before a child starts, allergy action plans agreed with parents, food prepared to prevent choking, and children always in sight and hearing while eating.
- Safer sleep (3.86). The nine rules for children under 2. See our safer sleep guide.
- Accidents and first aid (3.78 to 3.79). A first aid box, a written record of accidents and first aid, parents told the same day, and Ofsted told of serious accidents within 14 days.
- Outings and risk (3.91 to 3.93). A risk assessment for each type of outing, and written risk assessments where they help staff or show parents and inspectors how you manage risk.
- Equality (3.30 and 3.85). Your duties under the Equality Act 2010, including fair treatment of staff and reasonable adjustments.
- Smoking and vaping (3.29). No smoking on the premises when children are there or about to be, and staff shouldn’t vape around children.
Outside the EYFS, data protection law means you’ll also need a privacy notice for parents, and employers need the usual workplace policies.
Childminders and schools
- Childminders (childminder framework 3.6) on the Early Years Register only, or with an early years childminder agency, don’t need written policies. You must still have them, follow them, make sure any assistants follow them, and explain them to parents and inspectors. You must have an attendance policy you share with parents (3.13), and while you don’t need a written complaints procedure you must keep a record of complaints and reply within 28 days (3.100).
- Schools don’t need separate EYFS policies where an existing school policy already meets the requirement (3.5).
Updating your policies for September 2026
- Change every reference to the old framework to the frameworks in force from 1 September 2026.
- Check your attendance policy covers how parents report absence and what you do when a child is missing without notice or for a long time (3.11 to 3.12).
- Rewrite your sleep policy against 3.86. See safer sleep.
- Check your safeguarding policy covers allegations against staff, including telling Ofsted within 14 days (3.10), and DBS checks for volunteers. See what changed in September 2026.
- Check your premises rules mention that banned dog breeds, including XL Bully types, must never be on the premises (3.82).
- Date every policy and keep the previous version.
Sharing policies with parents
Paragraph 3.100 says you must share details of your policies and procedures with parents and make copies available on request, including what happens if a child isn’t collected or goes missing. The easiest way is a policies page on your website, with each policy as a dated PDF or page and a line saying parents can ask for a paper copy.
It also helps at inspection: Ofsted’s inspectors look at a setting’s website before they visit. In ourstudy of 530 London nursery websites, 28% didn’t link to any policies we could find, and 67% didn’t mention a complaints process.
See also everything the EYFS says you must share with parents and preparing for inspection.
Questions
What policies does a nursery need under the EYFS?
The September 2026 framework names safeguarding (including mobile phones and cameras, allegations against staff and safer recruitment), whistleblowing, attendance, illness and infection, administering medicines, emergency evacuation, checking visitors, uncollected children, missing children and complaints. Group settings must have these in writing.
Do childminders need written policies?
No. Paragraph 3.6 of the childminder framework says childminders registered only on the Early Years Register or with an early years childminder agency don’t need written policies, but must have them, follow them and be able to explain them to parents and inspectors. They still need an attendance policy they share with parents, and must keep a record of complaints.
Do schools need separate EYFS policies?
No. Paragraph 3.5 says schools don’t need separate EYFS policies if an existing school policy already meets the requirement.
Is the attendance policy new?
The September 2026 framework says providers must have an attendance policy they share with parents, covering how to report absences and what the setting does when a child is absent without notice or for a long time. If yours predates the new framework, check it covers both.
Do I have to put policies on my website?
The EYFS says you must share details of your policies and procedures with parents and make copies available on request. It doesn’t say where. A policies page on your website is the simplest way to do both, and inspectors look at your website before they visit.
How often should EYFS policies be reviewed?
The framework doesn’t set a review date. Most settings review each policy at least once a year and whenever the law or framework changes, and date every version. Every policy should now refer to the framework in force from 1 September 2026.
Sources
- EYFS framework for group and school-based providers, dated 13 July 2026, section 3
- EYFS framework for childminders, dated 13 July 2026, section 3
- EYFS statutory framework, DfE, GOV.UK
More guides: all our guides for nurseries, childminders and schools.
Can parents find your policies?
Run our free checker on your website to see whether parents can find your policies, complaints process and safeguarding information. Or send us your setting’s name and a person will look within two working days.
Check my website