GovWire

Guidance: EYFSP return: technical specification

Department For Education

January 8
12:02 2025

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This specification is for:

  • suppliers developing software for use in management information systems
  • local authorities collecting and submitting data for the 2025 EYFSP data return

It explains:

  • the business rationale for the return
  • changes for the 2025 return
  • methods for importing data into local authority information systems
  • how to prepare and submit the data in XML format
  • the validation rules that the Department for Education will apply to the data

You should read this guide alongside the common basic data set (CBDS). This defines common data items that we use in our data collections.

More guidance on submitting data to complete the EYFSP return is available.

Updates to this page

Published 27 January 2023
Last updated 8 January 2025 +show all updates
  1. We have updated the 'EYFSP return: technical specification' for 2025.

  2. Updated for 2024.

  3. Added an updated version of the 'Early years foundation stage profile 2023: technical specification'. Changes are in the version history.

  4. First published.

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