What is the latest EYFS Framework? The latest version of the framework for EYFS was released on the 14th July, 2025. Following the changes in January 2024, when nursery group providers and childminders’ guidance was separated into two frameworks, these latest changes have followed the same expected pattern. We have an EYFS framework for nursery group and school-based providers and a separate EYFS framework for childminders.
What changes has the EYFS Framework been through?
The largest recent change we saw with the EYFS Framework was in 2021. The September 2021 update is where we saw changes, including:
- Less paperwork expectation for practitioners, the focus was to increase meaningful interactions with children rather than be bogged down with ineffective observation processes
- The Early Learning Goals were revised (the ELGs remain unchanged in the latest framework update)
- Communication and language became more of a priority for the nursery curriculum
- EYFS assessment changed as the reception baseline became statutory
- The changes to Development Matters Guidance meant a huge number of nurseries shifted to using this as their go-to non-statutory guidance
- There was greater clarity around Level 2 food hygiene training and risk assessments with preparing food in nurseries
Then, in January 2024, we saw more updates to the early years framework: The once combined document was split up into two statutory documents. One for group and school-based providers and one for childminders We saw some language changes to make sections more ‘practitioner-friendly’
Now, the latest changes will come into action in September 2025.
The largest changes to the new EYFS framework are found in the safeguarding section. Most of the changes are unlikely to change the way your run your nursery, as you will already be running a tight ship when it comes to child safety and wellbeing anyway. But, always useful to know!
