Childcare and EYFS Training

England – Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Training

The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2023 sets the standards that all early years providers in England must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well, and are kept healthy and safe.

CareTutor offers a range of video-based eLearning training courses which align with the framework requirements for staff training on safeguarding and welfare-related issues.

The latest framework took effect on 4 September 2023, replacing the 2021 version. Ofsted uses this framework as the basis for all early years inspections. The safeguarding and welfare requirements (Section 3) are given legal force by regulations made under section 39(1)(b) of the Childcare Act 2006. These set out the steps providers must take to keep children safe and promote their welfare.

Key Staff Training Requirements (Section 3 – Safeguarding and Welfare)

• Child protection (3.6):
  Providers must train all staff to understand their safeguarding policy and procedures, and ensure staff have up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding issues. Training must enable staff to identify signs of possible abuse and neglect at the earliest opportunity and respond appropriately.
• Staff qualifications, training, support and skills (3.20):
  Providers must ensure all staff receive induction training to help them understand their roles and responsibilities, including safeguarding, child protection, health and safety, and emergency evacuation procedures. Ongoing training and professional development must be provided to ensure staff continually improve practice.
• Staff qualifications (3.23):
  In group settings, the manager must hold at least a full and relevant Level 3 qualification, and at least half of all other staff must hold a full and relevant Level 2 qualification.

Non-Statutory Guidance

Alongside the statutory framework, two key non-statutory resources support early years practice:

• Development Matters – curriculum guidance that provides a top-level overview of how children develop and learn. It supports practitioners (childminders, nurseries, schools) in designing effective early years curricula, while leaving space for professional judgement.
  Read more on gov.uk 
• Birth to 5 Matters – sector-led guidance that builds on previous EYFS materials, updated with current research and practice to reflect children’s needs today.
   Visit birthto5matters.org.uk

CareTutor’s childcare and EYFS training courses support providers in meeting the safeguarding, induction, and welfare requirements of the EYFS, while also offering a broad library of CPD-accredited courses that go beyond statutory minimums. Certificates, tracking, and refresher tools help providers evidence compliance during Ofsted inspections.

Scotland – Early Learning & Childcare (ELC) Training

Scotland’s early learning and childcare (ELC) is guided by the Health and Social Care Standards: My Support, My Life . These Standards set out what people should expect from services, emphasising dignity, respect, inclusion, responsive care, and wellbeing. They underpin regulation, inspection, and improvement in all ELC settings.

Key National Guidance & Inspection

• Realising the Ambition: Being Me (2020) – Scotland’s national practice guidance for early years, covering children’s learning and development from birth through the early years of primary. It promotes high-quality interactions, experiences, and environments in ELC.
• Care Inspectorate Quality Framework for ELC – Used for self-evaluation and inspections of daycare, childminding, and school-aged childcare services. It is structured around key questions and linked directly to the Health and Social Care Standards.
• Inspection arrangements – The Care Inspectorate regulates and inspects ELC services in Scotland, working in partnership with Education Scotland on the national inspection approach. 

Workforce Standards

All ELC staff in registered services must meet Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC). requirements, including:

• Registration with the SSSC.
• Compliance with the Codes of Practice (revised May 2024).
• Evidence of continuous professional development (CPD) and post-registration training and learning (PRTL) for renewal.

CareTutor’s childcare and early learning courses support providers to:

• Induct new staff effectively.
• Deliver safeguarding and child protection awareness training.
• Provide ongoing professional learning opportunities linked to the Health and Social Care Standards, Realising the Ambition, and the Care Inspectorate Quality Framework.

Our certificates, training matrix, and refresher tools help ELC services evidence compliance and continuous improvement during Care Inspectorate inspections.

Wales – Early Years & Childcare Training

Early years and childcare in Wales are regulated and inspected by Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW). CIW ensures that childcare and play services, nurseries, and early years provision are safe, high quality, and meet children’s needs. 

Childcare settings offering funded places for 3–4 year olds must follow the Curriculum for Funded Non-Maintained Nursery Settings (2022). This curriculum supports children’s learning and development in line with the four purposes of the new Curriculum for Wales.  

Key National Guidance & Inspection

• Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW): regulates and inspects early years, childcare, and play services, focusing on the well-being and safeguarding of children.
• Curriculum for Funded Nursery Settings (2022): sets out what funded 3–4 provision must deliver to help children develop confidence, independence, and a strong foundation for learning.
• All Wales Safeguarding Procedures: apply across childcare and early years services and must be followed by all providers to protect children.
• Social Care Wales (SCW): regulates the childcare and play workforce in regulated roles, requiring staff to register, uphold the Code of Professional Practice, and complete continuing professional development (CPD).

Induction Framework (AWIF)

The All Wales Induction Framework for Health and Social Care (AWIF) is primarily designed for new social care workers, including those supporting children and young people in care services. While not aimed at childcare and nursery staff in education settings, it provides a structure for induction in children’s social care roles, ensuring staff understand professional values, safeguarding, health and safety, and the importance of the Welsh language and culture.

CareTutor’s childcare and early years training courses support providers to:

• Deliver effective safeguarding and child protection training in line with Welsh requirements.
• Provide staff induction and CPD that complements CIW expectations and Social Care Wales registration requirements.
• Support compliance with the Curriculum for Funded Nursery Settings, All Wales Safeguarding Procedures, and themes within the AWIF for those working in children’s care roles.

Our training matrix, certificates, and refresher tools help childcare and play providers evidence compliance during CIW inspections and support staff in meeting Social Care Wales registration and CPD requirements.

Northern Ireland – Early Years & Childcare Training

Early years and childcare in Northern Ireland are regulated through the Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care (2012). These Standards set out the requirements for childminders, day nurseries, playgroups, and out-of-school care, ensuring that children are cared for in safe, nurturing, and developmentally supportive environments.

Key National Guidance & Inspection

• Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA): regulates and inspects daycare and childminding services to ensure compliance with the Minimum Standards. Inspections focus on safety, safeguarding, quality of care, and the overall well-being of children.
• Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care (2012): cover staff training, qualifications, safeguarding, health and safety, child protection, and learning/play environment requirements.
• Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI): inspects early years provision in schools and settings funded through the Department of Education.

Workforce Standards

Early years and childcare staff in regulated services must:

• Meet the training and qualification requirements set out in the Minimum Standards.
• Complete safeguarding and child protection training and be able to evidence knowledge of policies and procedures.
• In some care-related roles (e.g. residential childcare, day care for children in care), register with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC), uphold the Standards of Conduct and Practice, and maintain CPD.

CareTutor’s childcare and early years training supports providers to:

• Deliver safeguarding, health and safety, and child protection training in line with the Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care.
• Provide induction and refresher training to evidence compliance during RQIA inspections.
• Support staff in meeting NISCC requirements for professional practice and CPD in regulated care roles.

Our reporting tools, certificates, and training matrix help childcare and play providers demonstrate compliance and continuous improvement during inspection.