Early years foundation stage: coronavirus disapplications

The early year's foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children aged 0 to 5 learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.

To support early years providers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the government has temporarily disapplied and modified certain elements of the EYFS statutory framework.

This will allow providers greater flexibility to respond to changes in workforce availability and potential fluctuations in demand, while still providing care that is high quality and safe.

This guidance note outlines the EYFS changes that came into force on 24 April 2020 and should be read alongside the Actions for early years and childcare providers guidance and the Planning guide for early years and childcare settings.

The term ‘reasonable endeavours’ has been used for the learning and development requirements and welfare requirements relating to staff qualification levels. For the paediatric first aid (PFA) requirement, ‘best endeavours’ has been used. ‘Best endeavours’ is a higher-level requirement than ‘reasonable endeavours’ and is used here to ensure meeting the PFA requirements takes priority over the other areas of the EYFS framework that have been changed.

To find out who this if for, when the changes apply from and further important information please visit this page