The Early Years Foundation Stage (Welfare Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations 2025
Source: legislation.gov.uk (2025-03-03)

These Regulations amend the Early Years Foundation Stage (Welfare Requirements) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/938) (the “2012 Regulations”). Regulation 2 amends regulation 3(4) of the 2012 Regulations to give effect to a revised “Qualifications Document”, which is the document entitled “Early years qualification requirements and standards” dated 10th February 2025 and published by the Secretary of State on the gov.uk website.

Statutory Instruments

2025 No. 132

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS, ENGLAND

The Early Years Foundation Stage (Welfare Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Made

6th February 2025

Laid before Parliament

10th February 2025

Coming into force

3rd March 2025

The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 39(1)(b), 43(1), 44(1) and 104(2) of the Childcare Act 2006(1 (\"#f00001\")).

In accordance with section 43(2) of the Childcare Act 2006, the Secretary of State has consulted His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills and other appropriate persons.

Citation, commencement and extent

1. These Regulations—

(a)may be cited as the Early Years Foundation Stage (Welfare Requirements) (Amendment) Regulations 2025,

(b)come into force on 3rd March 2025, and

(c)extend to England and Wales.

Amendment of the Early Years Foundation Stage (Welfare Requirements) Regulations 2012

2. In the Early Years Foundation Stage (Welfare Requirements) Regulations 2012(2 (\"#f00002\")), in regulation 3(4), for “8th December 2023” substitute “10th February 2025”(3 (\"#f00003\")).

Stephen Morgan

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Early Education)

6th February 2025

Department for Education

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Early Years Foundation Stage (Welfare Requirements) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/938 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2012/938\")) (the “2012 Regulations”). Regulation 2 amends regulation 3(4) of the 2012 Regulations to give effect to a revised “Qualifications Document”, which is the document entitled “Early years qualification requirements and standards” dated 10th February 2025 and published by the Secretary of State on the gov.uk website.

The Qualifications Document specifies qualifications and training requirements to be met by early years providers (other than early years childminders) required by section 40 of the Childcare Act 2006 (c. 21) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/21\") to comply with the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework. The changes made to the Qualifications Document are the first part of the introduction of the experience-based route for early years practitioners to gain status to work at level 3 within staff:child ratios, which are set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework for group and school-based providers.

These documents are available on the gov.uk website at these links: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2 (\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2\") and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards (\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards\").

A full impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector is available on the legislation.gov.uk website. Hard copies of these documents can be viewed at the Department for Education, Sanctuary Buildings, 20 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT.

(1)

2006 c. 21 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2006/21\"). Section 44 was amended by paragraph 41 of Schedule 12 to the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c. 22) (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2009/22\").

(2)

S.I. 2012/938 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2012/938\"), relevant amendments were made by S.I. 2015/1562 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2015/1562\"), 2017/361 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2017/361\") and 2023/1338 (\"http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2023/1338\").

(3)

Regulation 3(4) defines the “Qualifications Document” as the document entitled “Early years qualification requirements and standards” published by the Secretary of State on the gov.uk website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards (\"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-qualification-requirements-and-standards\").