The Department for Education (DfE) has published revised Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory frameworks for childminders and group and school-based providers.

These updated frameworks came into effect on Tuesday, 1 September 2026 and set out the legal requirements that all early years providers must follow to support children's learning, development and welfare.

The revisions are intended to ensure the framework remains clear, relevant and aligned with current expectations for early years practice. Providers should ensure they are familiar with the updated documents and review any changes that may affect their policies, procedures and day-to-day delivery.

As the revised frameworks are now in force, providers should take this opportunity to confirm that their practice, documentation and statutory requirements are fully aligned with the updated guidance.

Screen time additions to EYFS

For children under two years – avoid screen time altogether except in exceptional circumstances, such as a video call with parents and carers.

For children two to five years – screen time should be limited to one hour a day, less if possible.

When thinking about using screens with children in your setting, you should bear in mind that they may already reach these screen time limits at home. You may want to establish a policy on screen use in your setting and share this with parents and carers to set out if, when and how you use screens: Baby and toddler screen time guidance - Best Start in Life.

For safeguarding purposes, you should keep the number of images or videos taken of children to a minimum, including for assessment purposes, and only share images or videos of children with their parents through technically secure methods. In accordance with the EYFS framework, personal devices should be used in compliance with the early years setting’s safeguarding policy. This policy must include how mobile phones, cameras and other electronic devices with imaging and sharing capabilities are used in the setting.

Allergy awareness guidance

CambsEYC would like to highlight new

allergy safety guidance introduced through Benedict's Law, which came into effect for schools in September 2026. The legislation was developed following the tragic death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe and aims to strengthen allergy management and reduce the risk of severe allergic reactions and anaphylaxis.

A simple graphic of a white crown icon on a black background. The crown features a cross at the top, circular ornaments, and fleur-de-lis shapes along its base, symbolizing royalty or authority.

While the guidance is statutory for maintained schools, it also provides valuable best practice recommendations for early years settings, including childminders. Settings are encouraged to:

Develop and regularly review a standalone allergy policy.
Provide annual allergy awareness training for all staff, including recognising anaphylaxis and using adrenaline auto-injectors.
Maintain up-to-date Individual Healthcare Plans (IHPs) for children with allergies.
Appoint an Allergy Lead and ensure allergy-safe practices across the setting.
Communicate clearly with families and maintain robust incident recording procedures.

For guidance, templates and support, please contact your Early Years Adviser or email earlyyears.service@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Sarting Reception

Guidance and resources for practitioners and families to support children with the skills to practise when starting Reception.

Do you work with families with children who are starting school this autumn?

New skills take time to learn. Practising at home will help children move into school more easily and confidently.

A illustration showing an adult and child walking along a winding path toward a yellow school building. Green hills, trees, blue sky, clouds, backpacks, and school supplies establish a cheerful back-to-school setting.

Why not explore our free partner-facing Starting Reception webpage, with a range of resources and guidance for family-facing partners that focus on supporting families with the skills children need to practise for starting reception, divided into these four key areas, supporting skills for:

Growing independence.
Building relationships and communicating.
Physical development.
Healthy routines.

Explore our Supporting home learning webpages to learn more about our home learning initiatives, support, training and resources.

Sign up to training, visit Booking and reservations for Early Years Childcare and School Readiness Service, ‘Home Learning Environment’, or reach out to Philippa.Sutton-Eddery@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to learn more.

Starting Reception survey

Passionate about supporting children to have the Best Start in Life?

If you have six minutes, please complete the Starting Reception Survey, for PVI Settings and Childminders, 2026-27, or encourage your reception class teachers to complete the

3D illustration depicts a checklist form representing task tracking or organization. White sheet with purple border, two green checked boxes, one empty grey box, pink clip, and yellow pencil appears against a pastel pink background.

Starting Reception Survey, for Reception Class Teachers 2026-27 by

Monday, 28September 2026.

The survey will capture your opinion of children's preparation for starting reception, ensuring our support is responsive to sector need. Your responses will be triangulated with feeder schools’ responses, and the outcomes and details of the linked free support and training will be shared during the upcoming local early education partnership (LEEP) meetings.

Local early education partnerships (LEEP)

Local early education partnerships (LEEP) are new locality-based meetings for schools, nurseries, preschools and childminders across Cambridgeshire. Developed to support the Best Start in Life strategy, LEEPs bring together all kinds of early years settings to strengthen collaboration and improve outcomes for children and families.

Photograph showing seated adults gathered in a bright room, viewed from behind a blonde person in a white shirt. Group discussion setting includes chairs, colourful clothing, framed artwork, and participants focused toward centre.

Held termly and free to attend, LEEPs will provide an opportunity to network with local colleagues, share effective practice, discuss local priorities and influence the support and services available within your area. Meetings will focus on key issues such as school transitions, parental engagement, vulnerable children, practice improvement and raising outcomes. Participants can also help shape future training, resources and funded initiatives that respond to local needs.

Sessions are available both online and face-to-face, making them accessible to all providers. To find out more and book your place, view the LEEP listing in the Professional development programme.

Professional development programme and membership offer

The 2026 - 2027 professional development programme offers a variety of training opportunities for the academic year ahead to support practitioners in enhancing their careers at all levels.

Promotional poster featuring a photograph of a teacher leading a group of young children during a classroom activity. Blue and brown text blocks announce “Professional Development Programme 2026–27” and promote training courses designed to strengthen teaching practice.

Coupled with the CambsEYC annual membership offer, you can take advantage of training discounts, up to 40% off listed course prices, and credits which can be exchanged for places on essential/mandatory courses free of charge.

For support with the training programme, course costs, and bookings, email eyctraining@cambridgeshire.gov.uk or telephone 01223 706 349.

You can sign up for your membership package via the CambsEYC Annual Membership booking form, or if you have any questions about membership options, please contact earlyyears.service@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

National Professional Qualification for Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL)

Take the next step in your early years journey with Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Teaching School Hub - NPQ in Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL).

Promotional graphic for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough NPQ Programmes advertises NPQ Early Years Leadership registration by 23 October at cptsnh.co.uk. Teal-and-white geometric design includes program branding, outlined arrow motifs, and a photograph of an adult helping children learn.

The NPQEYL offers a fantastic opportunity to strengthen your leadership skills, build confidence, and make an even greater lasting impact within your setting. Designed to help leaders develop the knowledge and expertise needed to drive improved care and education outcomes for children, the NPQEYL benefits for participants include:

Expert facilitators.
A supportive network of local practitioners.
A balanced and flexible approach to learning.
Increased confidence in leadership practice.
Improved outcomes for children and families.

The next cohort begins in November 2026 and runs until May 2028 – Register by Friday, 23 October 2026.

Early years qualifications list

The DfE has launched an online version of the early years qualifications list (EYQL) showing all the qualifications on GOV.UK.

The EYQL helps users determine whether a qualification is recognised as ‘full and relevant’ for the purposes of working within the EYFS staff:child ratios in England. The new format allows users to:

Search qualification information online.
View qualification details, additional requirements and notes more easily.
Access information without downloading a spreadsheet.
Find full and relevant qualifications to study.

For users who wish to work offline, the full EYQL remains available to download.

Early years managers and practitioners can also use the Start - Check an Early Years qualification to support qualification checks.

Qualifications achieved outside the UK are not included on the EYQL. Holders of non-UK qualifications should continue to contact Ecctis for qualification recognition: Early Years Services | UK ENIC.

Reception improvement offer

As you welcome a new reception cohort this term, the DfE have expanded its support offer to help you deliver high-quality reception practice. This includes new support from English hubs and maths hubs, the Excellence in Reception Teaching course, fully funded national professional qualifications for early years leadership and early years headship, and reception networks in every region offering local support to improve reception quality.

Explore the full range of support and find out how your school or setting can get involved in the Reception improvement offer - GOV.UK.

Previous DfE Reception quality webinar series have been viewed by over 10,000 educators, and feedback from those sessions has shaped the autumn programme. The DfE encourages schools and settings to make use of the free RISE Reception Quality Webinar Series this term and register now for webinars on learning environments, good level of development (GLD) data and inclusive practice.

Keeping children safe in education: a free webinar for schools on trans-inclusive practice

The Kite Trust is providing a webinar for school staff to learn more about the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance and its impact on trans, non-binary and gender questioning pupils.

This session will share information on changes that schools are expected to make in line with the KCSIE guidance, and ideas on best practice to ensure your school can continue to be inclusive of trans+ pupils.

Follow the link to sign up to this webinar: Keeping Children Safe in Education: Supporting trans+ pupils in schools Tickets, Thursday, October 1 • 4 PM - 5:30 PM GMT+1 | Eventbrite.

Learning outside the classroom

Grafham Water Centre is offering a range of outdoor curriculum courses, ranging from Forest School leader to first aid to outdoor cooking:

ITC Level 2 Award in Food Hygiene in the Outdoors (RQF). This qualification is intended to provide the learner with an understanding of the benefits of outdoor food hygiene.

Applicable to a wide range of outdoor cooking environments, from camp kitchens to individual and group expeditions.

ITC Level 3 Award in Forest School & Paediatric First Aid (RQF). This is a full two-day course, and you need to make sure you attend all of it to complete the training. The course does have an element of assessment. To pass the course, attendees are required to take a full and active part in practising all the procedures and protocols taught to provide for the necessary continual assessment opportunities.

Families Information Service

The Cambridgeshire Families Information Service (FIS) provide information, advice and guidance to families across Cambridgeshire.

They manage the Cambridgeshire Childcare Directory and offer brokerage support for families with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) from birth to 25.

ogo featuring two stylised handprints in orange, purple, green, pink, and blue colours alongside text reading "Families Information Service."

Their advice is free, confidential, and impartial.

The FIS can help with finding childcare, understanding childcare funding options, childcare for children with SEND, and the SEND Local Offer.

For information on childcare and early learning, contact the FIS team: Lisa Watson, Families Information Coordinator, and Tracey-Ann Grant, Childcare Brokerage Adviser - SEND.

Email fis@cambridgeshire.gov.uk, telephone 0345 045 1360, or connect with them on Facebook @CambsFIS.

Free breakfast clubs programme

The DfE free breakfast club programme continues to be rolled out into the new academic year and presents an opportunity to support children's wellbeing, attendance and readiness to learn. By providing access to a healthy breakfast and a positive start to the school day, breakfast clubs can play an important role in helping pupils arrive settled, engaged and prepared for learning.

Photograph showing children sharing breakfast at a kitchen table. One child in blue shirt holds a spoonful of cereal above a white bowl, while the other in red plaid shirt eats from another bowl on woven placemats.

Further information can be found on the DfE websites:

We recognise that schools might be considering what participation might mean for their individual context, including staffing, accommodation, funding arrangements and wider strategic priorities. As with any new initiative, there may be questions about implementation and sustainability.

If you would like to discuss the free breakfast clubs programme further, please email earlyyears.service@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Practical toilet training

Using the toilet independently is one of the most significant school readiness challenges facing families and schools, with many children still developing this important skill before starting school.

Best Start in Life Toilet Training campaign supports parents of children aged three to four to help their child build confidence and independence in using the toilet.

To help promote the campaign, partners can download a range of resources from the Campaign Resource Centre that provide practical toilet training guidance for parents.

The campaign directs parents to the new Potty training your child - Best Start in Life - NHS webpage, which provides practical advice to help children develop the skills they need, from recognising when they need the toilet to managing clothing, wiping, flushing and washing their hands using the below steps:

Tell your child what’s happening.
Stop using nappies during the day.
Help your child use the potty or toilet regularly.
Praise their efforts.
Help your child build confidence with new skills.

Further advice is available on the Best Start in Life health advice - NHS website.

Why assessment should shape your early years curriculum

Assessment in the early years is about far more than tracking children's progress. The latest post on CambsEYC blogs highlights how assessment can be a powerful tool for shaping and developing an effective curriculum that responds to the unique needs of each cohort.

Photograph shows young child using a small brass-and-black telescope outdoors. Curly-haired child in white shirt peers toward greenery, illustrating exploration and observation.

Rather than viewing assessment as a paperwork exercise, practitioners are encouraged to use observations, conversations and professional reflection to understand what children know, enjoy and need next. This insight can help settings adapt learning experiences, strengthen teaching approaches and ensure the curriculum remains relevant, ambitious and meaningful.

The blog emphasises that no two groups of children are the same. Assessment enables practitioners to identify strengths, interests, developmental needs and potential barriers to learning, allowing them to tailor provision and support inclusion, particularly for children with special educational needs and disability (SEND).

Importantly, assessment can also help leaders evaluate the effectiveness of their curriculum, asking not just how children are progressing, but whether the curriculum itself is achieving its intended outcomes. By using assessment to inform continuous improvement, settings can keep children firmly at the heart of curriculum development.

Reception SEND surgeries

Reception special educational needs and disability (SEND)surgeries provide an opportunity for school special educational needs coordinators and early years teachers to discuss how to support emerging needs and get advice on next steps. They can help you understand the Early Support Pathway and wider SEND offer.

Photograph showing a person taking notes with yellow pencil while speaking on a smartphone at a desk. Warm indoor lighting, white shirt, brown vest, curly hair, teal box foreground, blurred shelving background.

The consultations will be carried out via telephone and will be bookable in 30-minute slots:

Friday, 18 September 2026, 1.30 pm, 2.30 pm, and 3.30 pm.
Monday, 21 September 2026, 10 am, 11 am and 12 pm.
Thursday, 8 October 2026, 10 am, 11 am and 12 pm.
Thursday, 15 October 2026, 1.30 pm, 2.30 pm, and 3.30 pm.
Tuesday, 3 November 2026, 1.30 pm, 2.30 pm, and 3.30 pm.
Monday, 9 November 2026, 10 am, 11 am, and 12 pm.
Monday, 7 December 2026, 1.30 pm, 2.30 pm, and 3.30 pm.

Please outline the areas you wish to cover when making your booking. Please note it is a requirement, unless parental permission is in place, that children remain anonymous.

Your free telephone consultation can be booked by visiting Booking and reservations for Early Years Childcare and School Readiness Service, 'Reception SEND Surgery.'

Speech and language therapy

Speech and language therapy is offering 15-minute telephone appointments for queries about speech, language and communication.

These sessions are available to any professionals working with preschool children, from birth until they transition to reception, and are an opportunity to ask questions –

Photograph shows close-up hands in grey sweaters, one palm extended with fingers spread while another finger points toward it. Blurred indoor background emphasizes nonverbal communication or gesture demonstration.

hypothetical cases, whether to refer to speech and language therapy, how to refer, signposting to resources, and how to support a child you are working with.

Please book one slot per child you would like to discuss:

Thursday, 22October 2026
Wednesday, 2 December 2026

To book a slot, please visit Booking and reservations for Early Years Childcare and School Readiness Service, ‘Communication, language and literacy.’

Please note that these sessions are not to discuss children who are already being seen by speech and language therapy. If you have questions about these children, please contact your link therapist, as they will be able to give you more specific information. If you are unsure who your link therapist is or how to contact them, then please contact the admin team, email ccs-tr.slt@nhs.net or telephone 0300 029 50 50.

Bookstart dual-language picture book offer

Look out this autumn for your invitation to order a dual-language picture book for each of your children with English as an additional language who celebrate their third birthday during this academic year.

Illustration depicts a turquoise bear reading a bright red book with a small white cub. Dark navy arched backdrop frames friendly characters, suggesting shared reading, learning, and storytelling.

Cambridgeshire Bookstart will send out the order forms in October/November, and again in April/May to pick up any new children that may have joined you during the year.

There are 42 languages to choose from. We kindly ask that you only order Dual Language books for children whose parents speak limited English, and therefore would most benefit from sharing the book.

If you would like to know more about how your families can receive the other Bookstart gifts, please email us for a PDF of our ‘Bookstart Offer 2026-2027: A guide for practitioners working with under-fives’ leaflet.

For more information, please email Bookstart@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Peep Learning Together Programme (LTP)

Join our fun and supportive evidence-based training, where you can learn more about supporting families to recognise everyday moments that strengthen their child’s development through play.

The course will provide you with an overview of the programme's five key strands, mapped to EYFS areas of learning. You will receive access to resources for family-facing sessions linked to child development topics, including session plans, activity ideas, and parent handouts.

Peep LTP ensures increased parental confidence in the home learning environment, improved skills for starting reception, earlier identification, signposting to relevant support, strengthened partnerships with families, and a shared language for family-facing partners across Cambridgeshire, supporting children to have the Best Start in Life.

You can learn more about Peep LTP and funded places and bursaries on the Learn Together website, and to book training, visit Booking and reservations for Early Years Childcare and School Readiness Service, ‘Home Learning Environment.’

50 Things to Do Before You’re Five

50 exciting, open-ended ideas for play to support children’s development

Looking for low- or no-cost ideas and events to share with families?

Typography graphic promoting a “50 things to do before you’re five” activity checklist. Large turquoise “50,” magenta “five,” black ribbon labels, green arrow, and dotted connector create a playful child-focused design.

Why not download our free 50 Things to Do mobile app o mobile app to explore 50 different activity ideas, each with linked songs, books, and rhymes, or browse the events page for low- and no-cost events near you.

Look out for the 50 Things to Do activities page, guiding you through 50 low- or no-cost activities to enjoy at home, in a garden, or when you are out and about. From soft play, craft, and sensory mornings to Lego adventures, bug hunting and live bands – there is something for everyone.

Explore the low- or no-cost events taking place across Cambridgeshire on the 50 Things to Do local events page.

Next steps:

Learn more about how to embed 50 Things to Do Before You're Five.
Explore, download and share, Family facing posters.

Fostering sessions and events

Do you want to find out more about fostering? Why not come along to one of our free information sessions?

Photograph of three people walking on a sidewalk beside a street with green bike lanes and trees in the background. One person has their arm around another, suggesting a close relationship, while the third carries a bag, indicating a casual outdoor setting during daylight.

Cambridgeshire County Council holds regular sessions and events, both virtually and face-to-face, where a fostering recruitment officer, a social worker, and one of our experienced foster carers will give an informal presentation to explain everything you need to know about fostering.

You will have the opportunity to ask any questions and to talk one-on-one with a member of the team to see if we can help you further.

At our virtual events, we also hold 'private virtual rooms' after the presentation if you would like to talk more about fostering.

Visit Cambridgeshire County Council Fostering Information Session Registration to book your free place on the dates below:

Thursday, 15 October, 12 noon to 1 pm.
Monday, 16 November, 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm.
Wednesday, 9 December, 12 noon to 1 pm.

Email fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Telephone 0800 052 0078.

Share your good news with CambsEYC

Contributions for News Round-Up should be between 150 and 300 words and include a high-resolution image. All photographs must have parental permission to publish for any children shown. The editors reserve the right to edit articles for length and content to meet the audience's needs. Please submit your news items to eycinfo@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Stay connected with CambsEYC online

Manage your subscriptions

Unsubscribe from all future emails

This email was sent to eycinfo@cambridgeshire.gov.uk using Microsoft Dynamics on behalf of Cambridgeshire County Council.

New Shire Hall, Alconbury, PE28 4YE