Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework

Safeguarding policies must now also include:

• Procedures to follow to check the suitability of new recruits.
• Details of how safeguarding training is delivered and how practitioners are supported to put this into practice.

Providers/childminders must have appropriate whistleblowing procedures in place to ensure staff, students and volunteers can raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice in the setting’s safeguarding provision. Procedures must include when and how to report concerns and the process that will be followed after concerns have been reported. Providers/childminders must ensure that staff are aware of the setting’s whistleblowing procedures and must ensure all staff feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice and know that such concerns will be taken seriously by the senior leadership team. 

Where a staff member feels unable to raise an issue with their employer, or feels that their genuine concerns are not being addressed, they should use the other channels open to them.

Providers/childminders must follow up on absences in a timely manner. If a child is absent for a prolonged period of time, or if a child is absent without notification from the parent or carer, attempts must be made to contact the child’s parents and/or carers and alternative emergency contacts. Providers/childminders must consider patterns and trends in a child’s absence and their personal circumstances and use their professional judgement when deciding if their absence should be considered as prolonged. Consideration must be given to the child’s vulnerability, parent’s and/or carer’s vulnerability and their home life. Any concerns must be referred to local children’s social care services and/or a police welfare check requested. 

Providers/childminders must have an attendance policy that they share with parents and/or carers. This must include expectations for reporting child absences and the actions that the provider/childminder will take if a child is absent without notification or for a prolonged period of time. 

Providers/childminders who are employing assistants must obtain a reference before employment. They should:

• Not accept open references e.g. ‘to whom it may concern.’
• Not rely on applicants to obtain their reference.
• Ensure references are from the candidate’s current employer, training provider or education setting and have been completed by a senior person with appropriate authority.
• Not accept references from a family member.
• Obtain verification of the individual’s most recent relevant period of employment where the applicant is not currently employed.
• Secure a reference from the relevant employer from the last time the applicant worked with children (if not currently working with children). If the applicant has never worked with children, then ensure a reference is from their current employer, training provider or education setting.
• Ensure electronic references originate from a legitimate source.
• Contact referees to clarify content where information is vague or insufficient information is provided.
• Compare the information on the application with that in the reference and take up any discrepancies with the applicant.
• Establish the reason for the applicant leaving their current or most recent post, and ensure any concerns are resolved satisfactorily before appointment is confirmed. 

References should be provided for previous employees upon request in a timely manner. When asked to provide references, providers/childminders should ensure the information confirms whether they are satisfied with the applicant’s suitability to work with children and provide the facts (not opinions) of any substantiated safeguarding concerns/allegations that meet the harm threshold (the harm test is explained in the Disclosure and Barring Service guidance). They should not include information about concerns/allegations which are unsubstantiated, unfounded, false or malicious. 

Suitable students on long term placements, volunteers aged 17 or over and staff working as apprentices in early education aged 16 or over, may be included in the staff:child ratio at the level below their level of study if:

• The provider/childminder is satisfied that they are component and responsible
• They hold a valid and current Paediatric First Aid (PFA) qualification

Where children are provided with meals, snacks and drinks, these must be healthy, balanced and nutritious. To understand how to meet this requirement providers/childminders must have regard to the Early Years Foundation Stage nutrition guidance. Fresh drinking water must always be available and accessible to children.

Whilst children are eating there should always be a member of staff in the room with a valid paediatric first aid certificate. 

Before a child is admitted to the setting the provider/childminder must obtain information about any special dietary requirements, preferences, food allergies and intolerances that the child has, and any special health requirements. This information must be shared by the provider/childminder with all staff involved in the preparing and handling of food. At each mealtime and snack time providers/childminders must be clear about who is responsible for checking that the food being provided meets all the requirements for each child. 

Providers/childminders must have ongoing discussions with parents and/or carers, and where appropriate, health professionals to develop allergy action plans for managing any known allergies and intolerances. This information must be kept up to date by the provider/childminder and shared with all staff. Providers/childminders must ensure that all staff are aware of the symptoms and treatments for allergies and anaphylaxis, the differences between allergies and intolerances and that children can develop allergies at any time, especially during the introduction of solid food which is sometimes called complementary feeding or weaning. 

Providers/childminders must have ongoing discussions with parents and/or carers about the stage their child is at in regard to introducing solid foods, including to understand the textures the child is familiar with. Assumptions must not be made based on age. Providers/childminders must prepare food in a  suitable way for each child’s individual developmental needs, working with parents and/or carer to help children move on to the next stage at a pace right for the child. 

Providers/childminders must prepare food in a way to prevent choking. Babies and young children should be seated safely in a highchair or appropriately sized low chair while eating. Where possible there should be a designated eating space where distractions are minimised.

Children must always be within sight and hearing of a member of staff whilst eating. Choking can be completely silent therefore it is important for providers/childminders to be alert to when a child may be starting to choke. Where possible, providers/childminders should sit facing children whilst they eat so they can make sure children are eating in a way to prevent choking and so they can prevent food sharing and be aware of any unexpected allergic reactions. 

When a child experiences a choking incident that requires intervention, providers/childminders should record details of where and how the child choked and parents and/or carers made aware. The records should be reviewed periodically to identify if there are trends or common features of incidents that could be addressed to reduce the risk of choking. Appropriate action should be taken to address any identified concerns. 

The following additions have been made to this section:

• Providers/childminders must ensure that children’s privacy is considered and balanced with safeguarding and support needs when changing nappies and toileting.