Staff in early years settings including Reception classes will have to ensure pupils are both seen and heard at all times during meal times to ensure their safety against choking risk, the government has said today.
In a consultation response published today, the Department for Education said it would make the change to the early years foundation stage statutory framework so that the duty on providers was more explicit “to ensure the safety” of EYFS children.
“We intend to change the wording in the EYFS [statutory framework] to make it explicit that ‘adequate supervision’ while children are eating means that children must always be in sight and hearing of a member of staff - not just within sight or hearing,” the DfE said.
“As a baby or young child who is choking can be completely silent, it is essential that children under five are within sight and hearing of staff members while eating so that immediate action can be taken if necessary to ensure their safety.”
This will affect any setting that must abide by the framework, including childminders, preschools and nurseries as well as school Reception classes.
The government said the majority of respondents to the consultation agreed with the proposal but acknowledged concern raised by some that it could cause difficulties for some depending on the “layout of a setting” or ”capacity issues with staff members needing a break”.
The change is intended to come into force by September this year.
Responding to the change, Tiffnie Harris, primary and data specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said it could be a notable workload change for staff.
”In some settings, this will inevitably require increased staffing at certain times of the day, and the implications of this on early years funding must be recognised,” she said.
However, she also said the update was a “sensible clarification”.
Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said the “explicitly clear” change was welcome.
“It is absolutely imperative that all children in early years settings are adequately supervised to ensure that any incidents that might put their safety at risk, such as a choking incident or allergic reaction, are identified immediately,” he said.
“While we would hope that settings would have already been operating on the basis that children who are eating are always within sight and hearing of a member of staff, the fact that this is now made explicitly clear in guidance is something to be welcomed.”
The government also revealed proposals to allow the relaxation of staffing ratios for two-year-olds in early years settings as part of a series of measures announced in today’s Budget.
