Quality British values will be threaded through everything you do in your nursery. Your team will demonstrate the four British values unknowingly every single day.
But, as they’re a statutory requirement under the Prevent Duty guidance and we know inspections focus on intentional leadership decisions, it’s important that British values in the early years are understood and therefore planned for, rather than left to chance.
In this article, we look at what British values EYFS are (using simple definitions), cover what Ofsted says about British values and give examples of how they can be demonstrated in your nursery setting.
Before we get to the everyday examples, let’s first clarify what is meant by EYFS British values in 2026.
What are British Values?
There are common questions surrounding British values:
- What are British values?
- How many values are there?
- How do we teach EYFS British values?
If you’re looking for the answers to any of the above, you’re in the right place.
Using the latest DfE guidance and Prevent Duty information for early years, we’ve got all you need to know about British Values in one place (from trusted sources).
How many British values are there?
There are four overarching Fundamental British Values.
- Democracy
- Rule of law
- Individual liberty
- Mutual respect and Tolerance
You might sometimes see mutual respect and tolerance listed separately, making it look like five British values, but the official government guidance groups them as one value.
Where did British values come from?
The four fundamental British values were first set out by the government in the Prevent Strategy (2011) and were reinforced in 2015 to help prevent radicalisation and extremism.
Prevent duty was brought in through increasing concerns surrounding extremist views and the influence these have on children.
Prevent duty for schools and EYFS settings is underpinned by safeguarding responsibilities for the child’s welfare and understanding of the world around them. This duty combines safeguarding and equality.
British values are deeply embedded in the EYFS Statutory Framework, making them a requirement for every early years provider in England.
Fundamental British values definitions
British values: Democracy
Democracy is all about making decisions together and ensuring every child knows their voice counts. It’s the understanding that we all have a say in what happens, rather than just being told what to do.
British values: The rule of law
This sounds grand, but in simple terms, the rule of law means understanding that rules matter and that actions have consequences. It’s about learning to manage their own feelings and behaviour for everyone’s safety.
British values: Individual liberty
Individual liberty is about freedom of choice and developing self-confidence and self-awareness. It encourages children to develop a positive sense of themselves and understand that they are free to have different opinions from their friends.
British values: Mutual respect and tolerance
This value is about creating an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated, not just tolerated. It’s about understanding that while we are all different, we all deserve to be treated with kindness.
Building tolerance for other faiths and beliefs helps to widen children’s understanding of the world around them.
Ofsted and British values
With the 2025 updates to the inspection framework, Ofsted has shifted its lens slightly regarding British values.
While they still look for compliance with the Prevent Duty, a key focus in the Early Years Inspection Toolkit is on Inclusion and the Curriculum. Exploring how nursery leaders’ choices have a positive impact on children’s interaction with the four British values.
Inspectors won’t expect practitioners to recite the definitions. Instead, they will look at your setting’s culture. They want to see how you meet the needs of the specific children and community you serve.
For example, if you are in a very monocultural area (non-diverse), Ofsted will look at how you proactively introduce children to the wider, diverse world, helping to build mutual respect.
As we know, one of the key activities in an Ofsted inspection is discussions with practitioners and leaders. Your inspector will likely ask common Ofsted questions about safeguarding, and how you’re preparing children for a life in modern Britain.
How to promote British values (with examples)
Although you’ll likely demonstrate all four British values in everyday practice, it’s important to be intentional.
Here are some examples of EYFS British values activities and how they appear in the early years.
Examples of British values: Democracy
Democracy is best learnt through “doing.” It’s about giving children responsibility and ownership over their shared environment.
Any activities that promote the following skills are developing the British values of democracy:
- Making decisions as a small group or in pairs
- Negotiating which game to play
- Listening to others’ opinions and thoughts
- Playing a game within fair rules
- Sticking to the plan decided (without putting a ceiling on creativity, of course)
- Deciding to play a game that all participants will enjoy
Examples of British values: The rule of law
Many PSED EYFS activities allow for the exploration of the rule of law. Children in nursery settings should be given free rein to play imaginatively.
By setting boundaries of what safe play looks like in EYFS and how to play inclusively with others, children can understand the consequences of their actions.
Many EYFS activities encourage the development of the following skills, which help to show your nursery is promoting British values, the rule of law:
- Recognising and naming feelings and emotions
- Managing feelings and experimenting with emotional regulation strategies
- Discussing and reflecting on right and wrong in different situations
- Setting personal boundaries with other children
- Talking about nursery golden rules and why they are important
- Staying consistent with consequences (including positive consequences) linked to actions
Examples of British values: Individual liberty
All fundamental British values are interlinked, and there are clear connections between democracy and individual liberty in EYFS.
Individual liberty covers children’s understanding of themselves and others, exploring where they fit within communities.
Children should be taught their fundamental rights and how to develop a positive sense of self.
Several ‘Understanding the World’ EYFS activities are appropriate to use to develop a child’s concept of their individual liberty, including their own personal boundaries within games.
Activities that promote individual liberty British values will focus on:
- Understanding the world around them
- Boosting confidence to share their views and opinions
- Increasing understanding of different relationships around them
- Developing awareness of other communities and roles within them
- Encouraging a positive sense of self
Examples of British values: Mutual respect and tolerance
Mutual respect and tolerance activities can help children work alongside people with different personalities, developing lifelong social skills.
Mutual respect and tolerance in EYFS are skills that your nursery practitioners will regularly demonstrate to parents, other team members and the children themselves.
As we all know, teaching mutual respect is a long-term process that begins in the early years and continues throughout their educational journey.
Mutual respect and tolerance British values activities might look at developing:
- Language and communication skills for EYFS
- Personal, social, and emotional development (PSED)
- Listening to others’ opinions
- Exploring different faiths, traditions and cultures
- Using early reading activities as an opportunity to learn about diversity
- Understanding and accepting others’ boundaries when playing
- Celebrating different strengths in others
Promoting British Values in EYFS doesn’t require a total curriculum overhaul. It’s more about being conscious of the social lessons you are already teaching.
As with anything in early years, understanding the why behind the activities and games you prepare for your nursery children is key.
By understanding which activities are underpinned by British values, nurseries can audit their coverage of all four fundamental British values. Helping children to navigate the world with kindness, confidence, and respect.
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