Welcome
The Early Childhood Forum (ECF), brings together national organisations and professional associations in the early childhood sector for all young children from birth to seven. ECF exists to promote inclusion, challenge inequalities, debate issues, celebrate differences and develop consensus to champion high quality experiences for young children and their families.
News & Events
Children at the Table
ECF is pleased to be supporting this NCB initiative.
Next Meeting Dates
The following 2025 meeting dates have been published
Further dates:
Zoom Meeting: 2025 programme TBA
Vodcast: Upcoming changes to the EYFS
Watch the latest vodcast on the upcoming changes to the EYFS now!
Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ35NlMzoDw
This vodcast outlines the changes to the EYFS coming into force in January 2024, subject to parliamentary procedure, and answers some of the sector's frequently asked questions. Topics discussed include changes to the Level 2 Maths requirement, changes to childminder training requirements, supporting children with SEND, supporting children with EAL, and supporting the workforce.
You can also read the updated EYFS frameworks in full ahead of the changes coming into force.
Visit:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64afe61b8bc29f000d2cccc0/EYFS_framework_from_September_2023.pdf
Foundation Years Updates
The Department for Education has published two updated guidance documents for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
EYFS Profile 2024 handbook
The EYFS Profile is an important statutory assessment of children's development at the end of the EYFS. We have published the updated EYFS Profile 2024 handbook to support teachers and early years practitioners to complete the EYFS Profile assessment in the 2023/24 academic year in line with statutory requirements.
The EYFS Profile must be completed for each child and submitted to the local authority no later than 30 June 2024. Local authorities must submit EYFS Profile data to DfE by 31 July 2024.
EYFS guidance on exemptions
We have also updated the EYFS guidance on exemptions for early years providers and individual children. The updated guidance simplifies, streamlines and clarifies the previous guidance, making it easier to follow and implement. There have been no changes to the EYFS exemptions policy or processes.
Copy, paste and follow this link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-profile-handbook