EYFS Safeguarding and First Aid Requirement Changes as from 1st September 2025

The early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework is mandatory for all early years settings. It sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well, and are kept healthy and safe.

From 1st September 2025, the Department of Education (DfE) introduced changes to the early years (EYFS) Safeguarding and Welfare requirements to strengthen policies around safer recruitment, child absences, first aid, and safeguarding training.

If you run a nursery, preschool, school, wraparound care service, or a childcare setting, it’s crucial to be aware of and understand these updates to remain compliant and provide the best support to children and staff.

The EYFS strengthened safeguarding requirements introduce:

Amendments to promote safer recruitment, including:

1. New expectations to obtain and provide references.
2. A requirement for safeguarding policies to include procedures to help ensure that only suitable individuals are recruited.
3. An update to the number of staff needing a full Paediatric First Aid certificate.
4. Specific updates relating to mealtime supervision.
5. New requirements for providers to follow up if a child is absent for a prolonged period of time. As well as amendments to ensure providers hold additional emergency contact details.
6. The creation of a safeguarding training criteria annex and a requirement for safeguarding policies to include details of how safeguarding training is delivered. Including how practitioners are supported to put it into place.
7. Amendments to ensure that early years students and trainees are required to have paediatric first aid (PFA) training for them to be included in ratios at the level below their level of study.
8. New requirements to support whistleblowing.
9. Amendments to ensure that children’s privacy during nappy changing and toileting is considered and balanced with safeguarding considerations.

To improve child safety, the new rules affecting first aid requirements state:

The new EYFS guidance requires that at least one person who has a current full paediatric first aid (PFA) certificate is on the premises and available at all times when children are present and should accompany children on outings.

All staff who obtained a level 2 or level 3 qualification on or after 30 June 2016 must also have either a full PFA or an emergency PFA certificate within 3 months of starting work in order to be included in the required staff to child ratios at level 2 or level 3 in an early years setting.

Childminders, and any assistant who might be in sole charge of the children for any period, must hold a current paediatric first aid certificate.

All staff need to renew their Paediatric first aid training every 3 years. The training must be relevant for workers caring for young children and include babies if necessary. Employers first aid needs assessment needs to include the number of children, staff and the full layout of premises.

• Early Years students and trainees must have paediatric first aid (PFA) training to be counted in staff: child ratios.
• Providers must choose a recognised qualification from an accredited first aid training provider.
• A staff member with a valid Paediatric First Aid Training must be present during meals.

Choosing your first aid training provider:

First Aid for Life is a multi-award-winning and fully regulated first aid training provider. Our trainers are highly experienced medical, health and emergency services professionals who will tailor the training to your needs. They always go the extra mile to ensure you have a top quality, enjoyable and relevant first aid course.

First Aid for Life is fully regulated through Qualsafe Awards and are regularly inspected to ensure we operate to the very highest standards. Our courses are EYFS, Ofsted and HSE compliant.

Supervising Meals Paediatric First Aid Qualification

In line with new guidance on child safety a staff member with valid PFA training must always be present during mealtimes. The following elements must also be implemented to maintain child safety during meals:

• A staff member with a PFA.
• Updated policies for managing food allergies, dietary needs, and choking risks.
• Clearer guidance on how food should be prepared to reduce choking hazards.

How we can help:

First Aid for Life can come to your childcare setting, or individuals can attend our open courses in London. All our Paediatric First Aid courses cover the full EYFS syllabus. The Full Paediatric Qualification is blended, with 6 hours of engaging and interactive online pre-learning followed by 6 hours of practical training in the classroom. The online element consists of videos, step by step directions, infographics and test yourself sections. Students can stop and start as often as they like and it is fully compatible with all devices.

Our Paediatric First Aid Courses include Emergency Life Support, Choking and Anaphylaxis (using an Epipen or Jext) as well as covering the full EYFS syllabus.

To book a group course with us please email emma@firstaidforlife.org.uk. To book individuals onto our open courses please visit our scheduled dates.

Changes to the EYFS framework from 1 September 2025

Author: Emma Hammett