About this guidance

The mandatory Early Years statutory framework comes into effect from 1 September 2012 and includes:

  • introduction;
  • section 1 - the learning and development requirements;
  • section 2 - assessment; and
  • section 3 - the safeguarding and welfare requirements.

Expiry/review date

Reviewed in 2011 and next due for review 2016.

What legislation does this guidance relate to?

The learning and development requirements are given legal force by The Early Years Foundation Stage (Learning and Development Requirements) (Amendment) Order 2012 made under Section 39(1)(a) of the Childcare Act 2006.

The safeguarding and welfare requirements are given legal force by The Early Years Foundation Stage (Welfare Requirements) Regulations 2012 made under Section 39(1)(b) of the Childcare Act 2006.

Section 46 of the Childcare Act 2006 enables the Secretary of State to confer exemptions from the learning and development requirements of the Framework in certain prescribed circumstances. The Early years Foundation Stage (Exemptions form the Learning and development Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations [due in 2012]

Who is this guidance for?

Early years providers, early years teachers, lead member for children's services, people who work with children.

This framework is mandatory for all early years providers (from 1 September 2012): maintained schools, non-maintained schools, independent schools, and all providers on the Early Years Register. Full details can be found in the download on this page.

Key points

  • the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe; and
  • it promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.