Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements

Bolton Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP) Call to Action

Bolton Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP) has issued a Call to Action to strengthen Bolton's collective response to child neglect.

Despite progress, neglect remains a significant concern, and further improvement is needed to ensure children experience real and sustained change.

Over the next six months, all organisations are expected to prioritise neglect and demonstrate measurable impact.

A Framework for Managers, Leaders and Practitioners

The Call to Action - Tackling Child Neglect in Bolton (June 2026) document provides a framework to help leaders, managers, and practitioners reflect on practice and drive improvement.

Key expectations include:

• Earlier identification of neglect and cumulative harm.
• Stronger multi-agency working and information sharing.
• Consistent use of tools and professional curiosity.
• A clear focus on the child’s lived experience.
• Timely challenge to drift and delay.

Please ensure it is shared widely and used within your organisation.

BSCP will review progress and seek assurance on impact in six months.

Further resources are available via the BSCP website: https://www.boltonsafeguardingchildren.org.uk/child-neglect

Every interaction matters. Every practitioners has a role. Every child deserves better.

Updated EYFS Frameworks Come into Force 1 September 2026

The main changes to the updated EYFS Frameworks for childminders and group and school-based providers are outlined below and *represent strengthened safeguarding requirements.  

Both EYFS frameworks include updates which:

• Bring explicit wording on the safer sleep requirements into the main body of the EYFS, so that providers do not need to refer out to separate guidance.
• Prohibit the provision of registered childcare from any premises where a banned dog breed is kept or is otherwise present. 
• Require providers to inform Ofsted or their childminder agency (CMA) of allegations of ‘harm’ (instead of ‘serious harm’) by anyone living, working, or looking after children at the premises.
• Require enhanced criminal records checks for volunteers (including those who are supervised) and prevent new employees from commencing employment before receiving their check.
• Amend the requirements for what providers must tell staff they have to disclose, as part of information that may affect their suitability to work with children.
• The group and school-based version also requires providers of childcare on domestic premises to notify Ofsted or their CMA of changes to persons aged 16 or over living or working at the premises. This aligns with existing requirements for childminders.

*Other minor clarificatory changes have been made to both frameworks. 

Changes to registration requirements - in relation to banned dog breeds

In addition to the changes to the EYFS frameworks outlined above, the department has also updated registration requirements for early years settings as follows:

• Nannies will be prohibited from taking a banned dog breed onto a premises where they are providing childcare, and will be required to take reasonable steps to avoid banned dog breeds being present.
• All other voluntarily registered, Early Years and Later Years providers will be prohibited from providing registered childcare from any premises where a banned dog breed is kept or present.

Controlling your dog in public: Banned dogs - GOV.UK

Ofsted Update: Banned Dog Breeds and Domestic Childcare

Ofsted has confirmed its position regarding banned dog breeds in domestic childcare settings. Ofsted do not believe that banned breeds are compatible with childcare. This means any dog classified as a banned breed must be kept in an entirely separate area with no access to any space used by children when childcare takes place. Please be advised, Ofsted has worked with the Department for Education and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to reach this decision.

Please refer to the updated registration guidance. This impacts childminders and childcare on domestic premises providers.

If Ofsted become aware that an existing provider has a banned breed of dog on the premises, they may need to take action to remove the risk to children. Providers already registered to provide childcare from a domestic premises where a banned breed of dog resides should contact Ofsted.

Inspectors will discuss the possible options available to providers and applicants as part of their work.

If you have any questions, please contact EYRegulatoryandSocialCare@ofsted.gov.uk

Create and Maintain Safer Sleep Environments for Babies and Young Children

The DfE has published new guidance for early years providers: Help for early years providers : Safer sleep

The guidance has been developed in collaboration with The Lullaby Trust and supports planned updates to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, expected to come into effect from September 2026.

It includes information on:

• how to provide an appropriate sleep space for babies and children
• safe use of cots, mattresses, bedding and sleep bags, including relevant British Standards
• how to supervise children while they are sleeping
• what to do when babies and children fall asleep while travelling,
• managing temperature, positioning and the use of comforters

By following this guidance, you can help keep children safe and meet EYFS requirements, while supporting consistent practice across early years settings.

Further information is available through NHS guidance on sudden infant death syndrome and from The Lullaby Trust.

Until the guidance above comes into effect, please continue to follow the EYFS statutory framework on sleeping arrangements (section 3.84). The EYFS statutory framework will be updated in time for September, in line with the above new DfE guidance.

The Lullaby Trust poster for childcare providers

A handy poster with advice on what babies should sleep in in early years settings. Poster for Childcare Providers

 

Centre of Expertise on Sexual Abuse: New Guidance and Webinar

The Centre of Expertise on Sexual Abuse has published a new step by step guide for early years provision to help improve the response to child sexual abuse. 

For more information visit: New Publication: Centre of Expertise on Sexual Abuse – Bolton Start Well

Useful information

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) safeguarding reforms: Summary of changes