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Guide to Early Years & Child Development Support

Early years education covers learning and care from birth to age 5. In England, registered early years providers must follow the Early Years Foundation Stage , known as the EYFS. This sets standards for learning, development, assessment, safeguarding and welfare.

About this guide

Early years education covers learning and care from birth to age 5. In England, registered early years providers must follow the Early Years Foundation Stage , known as the EYFS. This sets standards for learning, development, assessment, safeguarding and welfare.

1. Early Years Education

England only: the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) applies to schools and registered early years providers in England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland use different early-years frameworks.

Early years education covers learning and care from birth to age 5. In England, registered early years providers must follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, known as the EYFS. This sets standards for learning, development, assessment, safeguarding and welfare.

Early learning usually includes:

  • Communication and language
  • Personal, social and emotional development
  • Physical development
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the world
  • Expressive arts and design

Good early years education should be safe, inclusive, age-appropriate and based on play, relationships, routine and individual development.

Useful links:

2. Child Development

Children develop at different speeds. Development is usually looked at across:

  • Speech, language and communication
  • Movement and physical skills
  • Social and emotional development
  • Play and learning
  • Behaviour and self-regulation
  • Independence skills
  • Hearing, vision and sensory needs

Parents and carers should not feel blamed if a child develops differently. Early concerns should be taken seriously, because early support can make a major difference.

Useful links:

3. Nursery Education & Preschool Learning

Nurseries, preschools and childminders should provide safe care, learning opportunities and development support. Parents and carers can ask providers about:

  • Staff qualifications
  • Safeguarding arrangements
  • SEND support
  • Key person arrangements
  • Daily routines
  • Behaviour support
  • Meals and allergies
  • Toileting support
  • Communication with parents
  • Fees and funded hours
  • Complaints procedure

Children should be supported with kindness, consistency and respect. Concerns about safety, discrimination, neglect, poor supervision or unmet needs should be raised promptly.

4. School Readiness

School readiness should not be used as a reason to deny inclusion. Children develop differently. Disabled children and children with SEND may need reasonable adjustments, transition planning, communication support and additional provision rather than being expected to meet one standard of “readiness”.

School readiness does not mean every child must read, write or count before school. It means children are helped to build confidence, communication, independence and emotional security.

Helpful areas include:

  • Listening and following simple routines
  • Playing alongside or with others
  • Using words, gestures or communication aids
  • Managing separation from parents or carers
  • Toileting support where developmentally appropriate
  • Eating, drinking and asking for help
  • Curiosity about books, stories, songs and play
  • Confidence in safe movement and physical play

Children with SEND, disability, developmental delay, trauma, illness or family challenges may need extra transition support.

Parents can ask for:

  • A nursery-to-school transition meeting
  • A written transition plan
  • SEND support before starting school
  • Reasonable adjustments
  • Health visitor or speech and language input
  • A phased or supported transition where appropriate

5. Starting Nursery

Before starting nursery, parents and carers may want to:

  • Visit the setting
  • Read the Ofsted report
  • Ask about settling-in sessions
  • Share medical, allergy or SEND information
  • Explain communication needs
  • Ask who the key person will be
  • Check fees, funded hours and optional charges
  • Ask how concerns are recorded and shared
  • Ask for the complaints policy

A child should not be unfairly excluded or treated negatively because of disability, developmental needs, toileting, speech delay, behaviour linked to unmet needs, or family background.

6. Free Childcare Entitlements

Current England position: eligible working parents can receive 30 hours of funded childcare a week for 38 weeks a year for children aged 9 months to 4 years. All 3 and 4 year olds remain entitled to 15 hours, and some 2 year olds qualify through the separate extra-support scheme. Eligibility and application deadlines matter.

In England, childcare support includes funded childcare for eligible families. All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early education or childcare per week, and some 2-year-olds may qualify if the child or family receives extra support.

Working parents in England may be able to get up to 30 hours of funded childcare from the term after their child turns 9 months until school age, depending on eligibility.

Useful links:

Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so families should check their national or local authority scheme.

7. Speech & Language Development

Speech and language development includes listening, understanding, gestures, sounds, words, interaction and confidence communicating.

Ways to support communication include:

  • Talking during everyday routines
  • Reading picture books
  • Singing songs and rhymes
  • Giving children time to respond
  • Reducing background noise
  • Getting down to the child’s level
  • Naming objects and feelings
  • Using simple repeated language
  • Playing turn-taking games
  • Responding to gestures, sounds and attempts to communicate

If a parent or carer is worried, NHS guidance says they can speak to a GP or health visitor, who may refer to speech and language therapy. Some areas also allow self-referral.

Useful links:

8. Developmental Delays

Loss of previously acquired skills should be taken seriously. If a child loses speech, movement, social or other skills, or has feeding, swallowing, breathing or other urgent health concerns, seek appropriate health advice rather than waiting only for an education review.

A developmental delay means a child is developing more slowly than expected in one or more areas. This may involve speech, movement, play, learning, social interaction, feeding, toileting, behaviour or emotional regulation.

Parents and carers should seek advice if they notice:

  • Loss of skills
  • Limited response to sound or name
  • No babbling, gestures or words at expected stages
  • Difficulty walking, sitting or using hands
  • Very limited eye contact or social interaction
  • Feeding or swallowing concerns
  • Extreme distress, sensory needs or sleep difficulties
  • Behaviour that may show unmet communication or health needs

Support may come from:

  • Health visitor
  • GP
  • Nursery SENCO
  • Speech and language therapist
  • Paediatrician
  • Occupational therapist
  • Physiotherapist
  • Portage service
  • Local authority early years SEND team
  • Family hub or children’s centre

9. Early Intervention Support

Early intervention means getting help as soon as concerns appear, rather than waiting for crisis.

Support may include:

  • Health visitor review
  • Two-year development review
  • Speech and language support
  • Parenting support
  • Early years SEND support
  • Portage home learning support
  • Family support worker
  • Child development clinic
  • Early help assessment
  • Specialist nursery placement
  • Education, Health and Care needs assessment where appropriate

Useful links:

10. Family Support Services

Family support can help with parenting, child development, mental health, routines, finances, housing, domestic abuse, disability support, SEND and safeguarding concerns.

Family hubs aim to join up support so families can access services more easily. GOV.UK describes the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme as joining up services so parents and carers can access support when they need it.

Useful links:

11. Legal Rights

Key England legal framework: the Equality Act 2010 can require reasonable adjustments for disabled children, while Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice govern SEND support and EHC plans. Early years providers also have duties under the current EYFS framework.

Families may have rights under education, childcare, equality, SEND, safeguarding and data protection law.

Key rights can include:

  • Access to suitable early education and childcare where eligible
  • Safe care from registered providers
  • Protection from discrimination
  • Reasonable adjustments for disabled children
  • SEND support in early years settings
  • The right to request an EHC needs assessment
  • Safeguarding protection where a child is at risk
  • Access to complaints procedures
  • Access to personal records, subject to data protection rules

Useful links:

12. Evidence Standards

When asking for help or making a complaint, keep evidence factual, dated and organised.

Useful evidence includes:

  • Nursery reports
  • Development checks
  • Health visitor records
  • GP letters
  • Speech and language reports
  • SEND plans
  • Emails and messages
  • Incident forms
  • Safeguarding concerns
  • Photos of relevant documents
  • Attendance records
  • Fee invoices
  • Notes from meetings
  • A timeline of concerns
  • Records of what support was requested

A strong evidence note should include:

  • Date
  • What happened
  • Who was involved
  • What was said or agreed
  • Impact on the child
  • What support is needed
  • What response was given
  • Next steps and deadline

Use calm, factual wording. Avoid blame where possible and focus on the child’s needs, safety, development and rights.

13. Accountability & Complaints

Use the right complaint route. Ofsted can consider concerns about registered childcare standards and safeguarding, but it does not normally resolve private contractual fee disputes or act as a substitute for SEND, discrimination, local-authority or court/tribunal routes.

If there is a concern about nursery, childcare or early years support:

  1. Speak to the key person, room leader or manager.
  2. Ask for the concern and response in writing.
  3. Request a meeting and written action plan.
  4. Use the provider’s complaints policy.
  5. Contact the local authority early years team if funded childcare, SEND or safeguarding duties are involved.
  6. Contact Ofsted if the concern relates to registered childcare safety, welfare or standards.
  7. Seek legal or specialist advice for discrimination, SEND or safeguarding issues.

Useful links:

14. Quick Help Directory

Find childcare

https://www.gov.uk/find-childcare

Free childcare

https://www.gov.uk/find-free-early-education https://www.gov.uk/free-childcare-if-working https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Child development

https://www.nhs.uk/baby/babys-development/

Speech and language

https://www.nhs.uk/baby/babys-development/play-and-learning/help-your-baby-learn-to-talk/ https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/

SEND support

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-guide-for-parents-and-carers https://www.ipsea.org.uk/ https://contact.org.uk/

Family support

https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council https://www.familylives.org.uk/ https://www.nspcc.org.uk/

Safeguarding

Emergency: 999 Report child abuse to local council: https://www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse-to-local-council NSPCC: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/

Complaints

Childcare complaints: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-childcare Ofsted: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted Local Government Ombudsman: https://www.lgo.org.uk/

Key Message

Every child deserves a safe, supportive and inclusive start in life. Parents and carers should be listened to, concerns should be taken seriously, and support should be based on the child’s needs, evidence and best interests. Early help is not about blame; it is about giving children the best chance to develop, learn and thrive.

Current 2026 update

Important Early Years Changes & Support in 2026

New EYFS Framework – 1 September 2026

The Department for Education has published new EYFS frameworks for childminders and for group and school-based providers. They take effect from 1 September 2026.

DfE says the main 2026 changes include updates on safer sleep, a requirement for providers to have regard to screen use, a prohibition on childcare where banned dog breeds are present, and other safeguarding clarifications.

Current & September 2026 EYFS Frameworks

30 Hours Childcare – England

Eligible working parents in England can receive 30 hours a week for children aged 9 months to 4 years, normally for 38 weeks of the year. Families must reconfirm eligibility through their childcare account.

Free Childcare for Working Parents Application Deadlines

Healthy Child Programme – Birth to 5

Updated national health-visiting guidance describes five universal health and development reviews, including the statutory 2 to 2½ year review. It encourages joined-up working with early years settings where developmental concerns are identified.

Healthy Child Programme – 0 to 5
Four UK nations

Early Years & Childcare Across the UK

Early education and childcare rules are devolved. The English EYFS and English funded-childcare rules should not be applied automatically in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

England

England uses the EYFS. All 3 and 4 year olds can receive 15 hours of funded early education, while eligible working parents can receive 30 hours from 9 months to school age.

EYFS – England Find Funded Childcare

Wales

Wales has its own childcare and early education system. The Childcare Offer can provide eligible families of 3 and 4 year olds with up to 30 hours of combined nursery education and childcare a week for up to 48 weeks a year.

Welsh Government Childcare Childcare Offer for Wales

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has a separate funded pre-school education programme. The Department of Education's 2026/27 programme aims to provide one non-compulsory pre-school year to children in their immediate pre-school year where families want a place.

Funded Pre-School 2026/27 2026 Pre-School Curricular Guidance
Development & health

When to Ask for Developmental or Health Support

Developmental variation is common, but parents and carers do not need to wait for a crisis before asking questions. Concerns can be raised with a health visitor, GP, nursery SENCO or another professional involved with the child.

The Healthy Child Programme says the 2 to 2½ year review is an important opportunity to assess health and development, identify emerging needs and support school readiness through timely intervention. The EYFS also includes a progress check at age 2 for children attending early years provision.
SEND & inclusion

Early Years SEND Support – England

A child does not need an EHCP before an early years setting can provide SEND support. Settings should identify needs, work with parents and use appropriate support and reasonable adjustments. An EHC needs assessment can be requested where the statutory test may be met.

Official sources

Key Official Early Years Sources

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