In this blog, and accompanying free resource, Education Adviser, Lucie Welch, discusses the key updates to Safeguarding in the EYFS 2025, how they will impact your setting and what you need to do.

From September 2025, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework will introduce new and welcomed safeguarding requirements.  

These updates are designed to strengthen recruitment, reinforce staff confidence in raising concerns and ensure that safeguarding is part of daily practice in every setting. 

For DSLs, school leaders and EYFS staff, the changes are a reminder that safeguarding is not only about policies on paper but about what happens in the moment with children, staff and families. 

Read this blog and download the free accompanying resource to find out what this means for your setting plus some practical questions to discuss with your team to help you stay compliant and confident. 

Why are the EYFS updates so important? 

The Early Years are one of the most crucial stages in a child’s development, but these formative years are also the stage where children are the most vulnerable, due to limited awareness of danger, a limited level of understanding and lack of communication skills.  

In the past decade, many Safeguarding Practice Reviews have consistently highlighted the vulnerabilities of babies and toddlers, with half of all child deaths reviewed by safeguarding partners involving children under five. 

Should the safeguarding measures fail in early years settings, the consequences are immediate and severe; these measures can truly be the difference between life and death.  

Which is why the EYFS 2025 strengthens requirements around safer recruitment, staff training, absence monitoring and first aid, to ensure best practice in the basics that keep children safe every day. 

What’s changing and why it matters in practice

Safer Recruitment 

Recruitment has always been a key safeguarding risk. We need the safest, qualified and most suitable candidates on our teams to not only ensure the safety of our children, but to help them achieve the best outcomes and thrive.  

The updated EYFS clarifies that references must be obtained before anyone starts work and must come from a senior person who knows the applicant in a professional context.  

This closes gaps that have previously allowed unsuitable individuals to begin work in Early Years settings without thorough checking. 

Whistleblowing 

The term whistleblowing has such a negative feeling attached to it, but actually whistleblowing protects everyone, not just the children, but staff members too.  

Every member of staff should feel safe to speak up if something does not seem right, if someone isn’t following policy or procedures or if they have a concern.  

A clear whistleblowing policy and regular training help build this culture. Importantly, staff need to know both who to approach internally and the external routes available to them.  

Staff need to understand that whistleblowing isn’t a bad thing, it’s not telling tales or picking on anyone, but is a crucial part of the safeguarding ethos of the setting.  

Attendance and absence monitoring 

If children are in school or nursery, we know they are alive.  

Unexplained absence is a recurring feature in safeguarding failures, as settings monitor from a data driven focus rather than with a safeguarding point of view.  

The updated framework requires settings to follow up on absences quickly, even for children under compulsory school age.  

The expectation is clear: absence must always be taken seriously, with clear thresholds for when concerns should be escalated. 

Safeguarding training and Annex C 

Safeguarding is not a tick box exercise and it’s not enough for staff to just attend safeguarding training.  

DSLs will now need to demonstrate how training is followed up, reinforced and embedded into everyday practice. It is not just about understanding but acting and fulfilling your duty.  

Leaders will be expected to ask: “Can staff show what they know, not just recall when they last attended a session?” 

Safeguarding is only ever as strong as the weakest link, so it goes beyond signing to say you’ve read a policy or have completed an online module.  

It is about a shared accountability and everyone on the staff, no matter their role, putting the children first, always.  

Paediatric first aid 

From September 2025, all staff working in Early Years settings as well as students, trainees and volunteers must hold valid paediatric first aid certificates before they count in staff ratios.  

This ensures that children are never left with adults who cannot respond in an emergency. 

Safer eating and hygiene 

Mealtimes, toileting and nappy changing are daily routines where safeguarding risks are high.  

The EYFS changes highlight the importance of policies that protect children’s safety while maintaining dignity and respect. 

The guidance highlights the importance of increased supervision and vigilance when the children are eating and sets out clear expectations for intimate care that protects both children and staff members.  

What do you need to do, ready for the new academic year? 

• Review recruitment processes and make sure references are obtained and checked before start dates 

• Refresh whistleblowing policies and explain them to staff in plain language 

• Strengthen absence monitoring and set clear thresholds for escalation 

• Evaluate safeguarding training to see how well it influences practice 

• Book paediatric first aid training for all trainees and volunteers before September 2025 

• Audit eating, toileting and hygiene procedures with dignity and safeguarding in mind 

Safeguarding is not about ticking boxes. It is about building a culture where children are safe, respected and protected every single day.  

The EYFS 2025 changes are a timely reminder that strong safeguarding starts with confident leaders, clear systems and staff who know how to act when something is not right. 

For support in preparing your setting, contact safeguarding@servicesforeducation.co.uk 

If you found this blog useful, you may also be interested in reading the following blogs:  

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  Statutory Safeguarding Courses for 25/26

Book now for the academic year 2025/26. We’ve published new dates for our highly regarded statutory DSL half-day Updates and two-day Safeguarding and Child Protection for DSLs training courses. Book soon to avoid missing out.

  About the Author

Lucie Welch – Adviser, Services For Education

Lucie Welch has worked in the field of Primary Education for the last 15 years, holding the positions of Assistant Head of School, Designated Safeguarding Lead, Attendance Lead and Designated Teacher for Looked After Children. Through working across several local authorities and within multi-academy trusts, Lucie has garnered a passion for safeguarding and supporting children and young people to enable them to thrive.

At Services For Education, Lucie is an integral part of the Safeguarding team, sharing her expertise with schools, colleges, trusts, and other educational settings across the city of Birmingham and beyond. Dedicated to improving safeguarding practices in an actionable and impactful way, Lucie works closely with settings to provide bespoke training, supports with reflection on their own practices during Safeguarding audits and always strives to contribute to a better learning environment for all children. Through delivery of statutory training for DSLs and Safer Recruitment, Lucie works with colleagues in all age ranges and is a source of expertise within these areas.

Lucie also wears other important hats within the School Support Team. Not only is she dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of students through her role in safeguarding, but she also plays a key part in the PSHE/RSE and Health for Life teams. Additionally, Lucie partners with the Best Practice Network to deliver the Early Career Framework, supporting new teachers in their professional development.