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How to review your Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) policy

Schools with early years settings have additional policy requirements; read more about these, and what policies they may be included in. Plus, find everything you need to review and approve your school's EYFS policy, if it's a standalone document.

Last reviewed on 18 August 2025See updates
Ref: 38445
Statutory/mandatory for:
Maintained schools
Academies
Free schools
Independent schools
Pupil referral units
Non-maintained special schools
Contents
  1. Key facts
  2. Policy requirements for schools with EYFS settings
  3. What this policy needs to do 
  4. 3 key questions to challenge the policy 
  5. Take a look at a model policy
  6. Model policy changes for September 2025
  7. See examples of school EYFS policies

 

Key facts

  • If your school has early years provision, Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) policies and procedures must form part of your statutory policies and documents. It's likely your school will cover most of the required topics in other policies, but it may still have a standalone EYFS policy
  • You can delegate the approval of this policy
  • You're free to determine the review frequency of this policy
  • The headteacher and senior leadership team will write and be responsible for the implementation of this policy 

Key statutes and guidance 

Policy requirements for schools with EYFS settings

If your school has an EYFS setting, you're required to have some additional policies and procedures on top of those required for all schools.

However, you don't need separate policies to cover these additional requirements if they're already met in other policies (as explained on page 22 of the EYFS framework).

Required