Exemptions from the EYFS for providers and individual children
What early years settings must do to apply for an exemption from the early years foundation stage (EYFS).
- From:
- Department for Education
- Published
- 9 October 2023
- Last updated
- 5 January 2026 — See all updates
Applies to England
Documents
Early years foundation stage (EYFS) guidance on exemptionsexemptions, including Annex A
PDF, 270491 KB, 22 pages
IndependentAnnex schoolsB: template:notification exemptionform fromfor the EYFSindependent learningschools and development requirements route
ODT, 9.9612.8 KB
This file is in an OpenDocument format
EYFSAnnex exemptionC: application form:form for the established principles route
ODT, 9.048.97 KB
This file is in an OpenDocument format
Details
This guidance explains when exemptions to the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework apply.
We can grant exemptions against the learning and development and assessment requirements of the EYFS for:
- registered independent schools
- providers with established principles in conflict with the EYFS
- individual children when their family has religious or philosophical beliefs that cannot be reconciled with the EYFS
This guidance outlines the conditions which must be met for individual and provider exemptions to be granted and how the different processes work.
Updates to this page
Published 9 October 2023
Last updated 5 January 2026
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Updated the quality requirements for independent schools in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) guidance on exemptions and the independent school notification template to align with the updated Ofsted inspection framework and toolkit for non-association independent schools in England. Other changes have been made to provide further clarity on existing policies and processes.
-
First published.
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-01-05 09:00
Updated the quality requirements for independent schools in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) guidance on exemptions and the independent school notification template to align with the updated Ofsted inspection framework and toolkit for non-association independent schools in England. Other changes have been made to provide further clarity on existing policies and processes.
2023-10-09 10:00
First published.
Early years foundation stage (EYFS) guidance on exemptionsexemptions, including Annex A
PDF, 270491 KB, 22 pages
IndependentAnnex schoolsB: template:notification exemptionform fromfor the EYFSindependent learningschools and development requirements route
ODT, 9.9612.8 KB
This file is in an OpenDocument format
EYFSAnnex exemptionC: application form:form for the established principles route
ODT, 9.048.97 KB
This file is in an OpenDocument format
Details
This guidance explains when exemptions to the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework apply.
We can grant exemptions against the learning and development and assessment requirements of the EYFS for:
- registered independent schools
- providers with established principles in conflict with the EYFS
- individual children when their family has religious or philosophical beliefs that cannot be reconciled with the EYFS
This guidance outlines the conditions which must be met for individual and provider exemptions to be granted and how the different processes work.
Updates to this page
Published 9 October 2023
Last updated 5 January 2026
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Updated the quality requirements for independent schools in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) guidance on exemptions and the independent school notification template to align with the updated Ofsted inspection framework and toolkit for non-association independent schools in England. Other changes have been made to provide further clarity on existing policies and processes.
-
First published.
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-01-05 09:00
Updated the quality requirements for independent schools in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) guidance on exemptions and the independent school notification template to align with the updated Ofsted inspection framework and toolkit for non-association independent schools in England. Other changes have been made to provide further clarity on existing policies and processes.
2023-10-09 10:00
First published.
Details
This guidance explains when exemptions to the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework apply.
We can grant exemptions against the learning and development and assessment requirements of the EYFS for:
- registered independent schools
- providers with established principles in conflict with the EYFS
- individual children when their family has religious or philosophical beliefs that cannot be reconciled with the EYFS
This guidance outlines the conditions which must be met for individual and provider exemptions to be granted and how the different processes work.
Updates to this page
-
Updated the quality requirements for independent schools in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) guidance on exemptions and the independent school notification template to align with the updated Ofsted inspection framework and toolkit for non-association independent schools in England. Other changes have been made to provide further clarity on existing policies and processes.
-
First published.
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-01-05 09:00
Updated the quality requirements for independent schools in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) guidance on exemptions and the independent school notification template to align with the updated Ofsted inspection framework and toolkit for non-association independent schools in England. Other changes have been made to provide further clarity on existing policies and processes.
2023-10-09 10:00
First published.