New Safeguarding Changes

New Safeguarding Changes Coming Next Year

New safeguarding measures which were the focus of a consultation earlier this year will be implemented from September 2025 to make sure the increase in places doesn’t reduce quality.

These updates include safer recruitment practices and safer eating which the Department for Education consulted on between April and June.  They received 1470 responses to the consultation which showed strong support for the proposals.

The DfE said that these changes will improve children’s safety in line with current best practice and come into force from 1 September 2025.

They include:

• Safer recruitment – new expectations that employers must receive references before staff take up their employment
• Child absence requirements – follow up if absent for prolonged period of time – emergency contact details
• Safer eating – to include having a member of staff with a valid paediatric first aid certificate present in the room
• Early years students required to have paediatric first aid training to be included in ratios
• Safeguarding training – the way it is delivered and requirements for what training must cover
• New requirements on whistleblowing for staff to be able to raise their concerns about safeguarding measures in their setting
• Children’s privacy during nappy changing considered within safeguarding context

The DfE has promised they will carry out a programme of communication and engagement in which they will work with sector and local authorities on how to implement these changes.