Following a government consultation, the Early Years sector is awaiting final details of the latest Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) safeguarding reforms, due for implementation in September 2025. While the detailed framework has not yet been published, we know that a new 'Safer Eating' section will be included.

The EYFS is a statutory framework that sets standards of care, learning and development for early years (0-5 years) settings in the UK. These include pre-schools, private nurseries and childminders.

EYFS (2025) Safer Eating

The 2025 reforms will feature a new Safer Eating section, within Food and Drink Facilities. The measures included in this section are likely to include:

• The presence of at least one Paediatric first aid (PFA) trained member of staff at all times when children are eating
• Setting are to obtain information about special dietary requirements, preferences, food allergies and intolerances and other health requirements before the child enters the setting. This information must be shared with all staff. For each child, a person responsible for checking their meals are safe for them to eat must be nominated.
• In association with parents / carers, and healthcare professionals when required, create allergy action plans for children with allergies. Note that allergies and intolerances can develop at any time, so these must be updated as and when required.
• Plan the introduction of solid foods in consultation with parents.
• Prepare food suitably to prevent choking
• Seat babies and children in highchairs or low chairs for eating.
• Observe children closely while eating. When possible, practitioners should sit facing the children; this allows for early intervention in the case of choking or allergic reactions. It also allows the practitioner to watch out for children swapping food.
• Choking incidents must be recorded and the parents / carer made aware.  As with any near miss incident, these should be reviewed regularly to identify any common issues that need to be addressed.

For the full wording, see p.27 of Early Years Foundation Stage safeguarding reforms - consultation response

Food allergies in early years settings

Food allergy policy is a key element that is included in the EYFS 2025 update. The published government response emphasis the requirement for ongoing communication between settings, parents, carers and in some cases, healthcare professionals, regarding allergies and intolerances. Allergy action plans should be developed, reviewed regularly and shared with all staff. The response also highlights that children can develop allergies at any time, with the introduction of solid foods being a potential trigger. At each mealtime and snack time, a specific person must be responsible for checking that food is safe for the child consuming it.

Food hygiene policy in early years settings

The EYFS 2025 is not expected to contain any updated regulations for food hygiene policy. Settings should continue to ensure that:

• all food is prepared and served according to the setting's Food Safety Management System (e.g. HACCP or SFBB)
• all staff involved with food preparation and serving are appropriately trained and supervised

For more information about your legal obligations when serving food, visit https://www.thesaferfoodgroup.com/knowledge/do-early-years-settings-need-to-register-as-a-food-business/

What do I need to do?

As an early years practitioner, manager, setting owner or childminder, make yourself familiar with the 2025 reforms as they are published, in readiness for any changes you need to make. Changes needed in your setting may include:

• Adjust child : carer ratios, particularly at mealtimes
• Check rotas to assess availability of first aid trained staff
• Review weaning and safe food preparation guidelines
• Update staff training
• Reconfigure your dining area. Make it easy to observe the children eating and remove any distractions

When will EYFS be updated?

In preparation for EYFS 2025, the government have published updated guidelines for Early Years nutrition. As part of EYFS 2025, providers will be asked to follow this nutrition guidance unless there is good reason not to. These guidelines are already available here: Early Years Foundation Stage nutrition - GOV.UK.

We will be updating this post with further details as they are available; you may want to bookmark this page. Alternatively complete our Early Years News form, and we will email you with updates, news and training information as it becomes available.

Our partnership with The Early Years Alliance

The Safer Food Group works in collaboration with the Early Years Alliance to create health and safety training specifically for EY settings that map to the EYFS framework. These include Level 2 Food Hygiene (Early Years), Level 2 Allergy Awareness (Early Years), and Level 2 Health and Safety (Early Years).  EYA members can access SFG’s Food Hygiene and Allergy Awareness for Early Years via EYA Central, with Health and Safety for Early Years coming soon.