Exemptions

The EYFS is a flexible and inclusive framework which is designed to accommodate both the needs of individual children, including children with learning difficulties and disabilities, and the many different approaches employed by early years providers. It allows flexibility for practitioners to make professional judgements about the pace at which individual children should progress and does not seek to prescribe or standardise day to day practice across settings.

However, we have made provision for providers and parents to seek exemptions or modifications to the EYFS.

Providers may apply for exemptions in the following circumstances:

• Where providers are temporarily unable to deliver the full learning and development requirements.
• Where a majority of parents agree with the provider that an exemption should be sought, and the exemption is required because the established principles about learning and development for young children which govern their practice conflict with elements of the EYFS learning and development requirements

Parents can apply where they consider that the learning and development requirements, or some element of them, are in conflict with the their religious or philosophical convictions.

The guidance in the link below will lead you through the criteria for exemption and the application process.