British Values and EYFS: How to Embed Them in Your Setting

Since 2014, early years settings have been required to promote the fundamental British values (FBVs) as part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and the Prevent duty. But some of these additional requirements can sometimes feel abstract and an additional burden to pass on to children who are just learning to talk and walk. Understanding how British values and EYFS requirements fit together is essential for every early years practitioner, since the framework and the Prevent duty both require settings to actively promote these values every day.

So, what do they really mean in the context of a toddler group or nursery class? And how can we embed them meaningfully into our daily practice without making it feel tokenistic or a tick-box exercise? 

British Values and EYFS: Where the Requirement Comes From

The truth is, British values are not something that should be taught as a standalone topic, like 2-D shapes or mini-beasts, but rather something that should be lived through your ethos and embedded in every interaction, activity, and routine in your setting. That way, British values become something that are fundamental to your setting rather than a badge you wear when Ofsted turn up!  

What are the fundamental British values? 

The Department for Education (2015) outlines four key British Values that all schools and early years providers must promote. These include: 

1. Democracy 
2. The rule of law 
3. Individual liberty 
4. Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

These values are not uniquely “British” – they exist in and are shared by many democratic societies – but they are considered fundamental to the development of fair, inclusive, and respectful communities that the UK government has outlined and defined as goals for British society.  

British values in EYFS  

In early years settings, these values are not taught through formal lessons or lectures. Instead, they are modelled through relationships, demonstrated in routines, and experienced in the setting and environment the children inhabit. Here’s what each value looks like in an early childhood setting: 

1. Democracy – letting every voice be heard 

Democracy means that everyone has a voice, and even very young children can begin to understand this principle when you: 

• Let them make choices, such as choosing which story to read or which activity to join 
• Encourage turn-taking in circle time or games 
• Use voting to help decide group decisions (e.g. snack choices) 
• Involve children in planning parts of their day, giving them a say in their learning 

It’s about helping children feel their opinion matters as much as anyone else’s, and that everyone’s voice counts. 

2. The rule of law – understanding rules and boundaries 

Even toddlers can begin to understand that rules exist to keep everyone safe and help us get along. You can support this by: 

• Explaining the reason behind rules (e.g. “We walk indoors to keep everyone safe”) 
• Using visual prompts like golden rules posters or social stories to explain expectations 
• Applying rules fairly and consistently, so children learn cause and effect and that rules apply to everyone
• Involving children in co-creating group rules to give them a sense of ownership 

By helping children understand boundaries, you can teach them that laws are there to protect, not control them. 

3. Individual liberty – encouraging freedom within safe limits 

Children develop confidence and self-esteem when they feel free to express themselves in a safe and supportive space. You can promote this by: 

• Supporting independent thinking and child-led play 
• Respecting children’s preferences and dislikes 
• Creating opportunities for problem-solving and allowing children to explore and experiment with their own ideas 
• Celebrating individual achievements, however small 

One thing to understand is that having liberty doesn’t mean unlimited freedom. It means nurturing autonomy within a clear framework of rules, safe boundaries, adequate challenge and care. 

4. Mutual respect and tolerance – living in a diverse world 

Early childhood is the ideal time to nurture empathy and appreciation for difference. When children learn to accept each other as children, it helps to create a more tolerant and supportive world when they grow up to be adults. You can do this by: 

• Providing a rich range of books, images and resources, telling stories which represent  all cultures, different abilities and the diversity of family structures 
• Encouraging kindness and empathy as daily values 
• Celebrating cultural festivals in meaningful, respectful ways (not just by using tokenistic costumes or food but exploring the meanings behind human choices) 
• Using gentle, open conversations when children can express curiosity or confusion about differences and accepting diversity as part of life rather than judging one thing better than another 

Tolerance grows out of respect and starts to develop when children are exposed to differences in ways that normalise them.  

Embedding the British values 

British values should never be reduced to a poster on the wall or topic you discuss once a year. Instead, they should be reflected in everything you do and the entire ethos of your setting. This means looking at:  

• Staff modelling: Practitioners show democracy by listening to each other and valuing opinions that are different. All practitioners should model respect in their attitudes, tone of voice and body language 
• Everyday routines: From resolving disputes to making group decisions, values should be practised in real life situations that the children will observe and copy 
• Policies and ethos: Settings that value inclusion, parental voice, and child-led learning are already embedding these principles so make sure that your policies reflect diversity and inclusion as well as the British values mentioned above 

As Dr. Julian Grenier explains in Working with the Revised Early Years Foundation Stage: Principles into Practice (2021), “values are best communicated through consistent, authentic practice, not slogans.” It’s about creating a culture where these values are simply “how we do things around here.” 

British values are not just another obligation to fulfil and we should see them for what they are – a framework for raising kind, thoughtful, resilient children. When you embed these values into everything you do, from mealtimes to messy play, you are helping to shape a generation who know their worth, respect others, and believe in fairness. And that’s something to be proud of. 

Once British values are embedded in daily practice, the next step is building shared values with parents, so home and setting reinforce the same messages. Read more on that here. 

For a closer look at each of the four values individually, see our guide to promoting British values at your setting.

Practitioners studying our Level 3 Early Years Educator course cover British values as part of their safeguarding and EYFS training.