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Birth to 5 Matters Review – 1st Draft Sector Consultation

Five years after the launch of Birth to 5 Matters (Bto5M), the Early Years Coalition is reviewing the guidance to produce an enhanced second edition to ensure that it best meets the needs of the early years sector today. As ‘Guidance by the sector, for the sector’, the Bto5M Review depends on hearing directly from EYFS practitioners, academics and training providers to find out what works, what could be improved, and where there may be gaps to be filled.

Following our initial survey in November, we have now taken all the feedback into account and have developed a revised draft which contains new sections on sustainability and digital pedagogy, as well as a new focus on meeting the needs of babies and children across the EYFS age range and into Key Stage 1 (birth to 2, two-year-olds, three-four-year-olds, Reception and beyond). There is also more focus on neurodiversity, and revisions throughout all sections in order to increase clarity or reflect latest research and thinking.

We will also be updating and expanding the online Resources, with improved accessibility on the website, to provide more in-depth information and support.
You will find the Draft here. You might find this summary of the main changes useful. In case you want to be able to compare it alongside the current Bto5M, you will find it here.
How you can help
By completing this survey you will be:
• helping us to understand what should stay the same and what may need updating, and
• giving consent for your answers to be used in this project. This means they would be included in the collated and anonymised data used by Early Education and members of the Early Years Coalition to inform the review of Birth to 5 Matters.

Any data we collect will be stored securely by Early Education in line with their privacy policy and will be used only to inform the review of Bto5M.

We are very grateful for your participation in the project. A summary of the survey findings will be published at www.birthto5matters.org.uk in May 2026.