As we prepare for the start of the new term, we want to inform all staff, volunteers, and parents about critical changes to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework.

The Department for Education (DfE) and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) have updated their safeguarding rules. These changes take legal effect next week on 1 September 2026.

Here is what you need to know about how these updates affect our setting:

1. New Rules for Volunteers and Students

Previously, some volunteers or students did not require a full Enhanced DBS check if they were under constant supervision. As of 1 September 2026, this "supervision exemption" is completely removed. Moving forward, all regular volunteers, students on placement, and apprentices must have a full Enhanced DBS with a Children’s Barred List check before they can work with the children.

2. Strict Vetting Before Starting Work

The rules around new hires are now stricter than ever. New staff members cannot begin working in our setting under any circumstances until we have physically received their completed Enhanced DBS certificate and verified their written references.

3. Continuous Duty to Disclose

All active staff members are under a continuous, legal obligation to notify management immediately if they receive any new arrests, charges, court orders, cautions, or convictions. Suitability to work with children will continue to be monitored actively throughout employment.

4. Banned Dog Breeds Prohibited

To ensure child safety, the new framework strictly prohibits registered childcare from taking place on any premises where a banned dog breed is present.

5. Safer Sleep, Eating, and Reporting Rules

The updated framework also introduces prescriptive new guidelines regarding safer sleep environments and safer eating practices for young children. Additionally, the threshold for reporting incidents to Ofsted has been lowered; we are now required to report any allegation of "harm", rather than just "serious harm."