June O'Sullivan calls for DfE clarity on floor bed safety risks for babies under 12 months

The chief executive of the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), June O'Sullivan, has called for greater transparency from the Department for Education regarding safe sleep guidance for early years settings. Her intervention follows ongoing debate about whether floor beds—sometimes used in Montessori-inspired nursery environments—create unacceptable safety risks for infants under twelve months. O'Sullivan emphasised that if the DfE possesses new evidence demonstrating that floor beds pose dangers to babies, this information must be made available to the sector immediately. The call for clarity highlights broader concerns about ensuring consistent safeguarding practices whilst avoiding unnecessary confusion for nursery practitioners managing sleep arrangements for the youngest children in their care.