Dame Clare Tickell’s review of the Early Years Foundation Stage - published today - has backed new recommendations for feeding children healthily in early years settings, made to Government by independent experts earlier this month.
The panel of experts – commissioned by Government and supported by the School Food Trust – found clear demand from childcare providers and parents for a recognised, national source of practical guidance on what under-fives should eat and drink while they’re in childcare, which all providers could choose to follow.
The guidance would mean children are given the right types of foods in the right portion sizes to meet their nutritional needs, and parents would have a national benchmark to help them choose a childcare place for their child.
Dame Tickell’s review Government to act on the panel’s report, “consider(ing) providing further advice and good practice for practitioners.”
School Food Trust Chairman, Rob Rees, said: “We know from our extensive work in schools that it’s simply never too soon to start children’s learning about healthy eating and food. It’s part of their social, physical and emotional development, and has to begin as early as possible for every child if it is to have the greatest impact for their health, their behaviour and their learning.
“That’s why we’re so pleased to see that the strength of the evidence from parents and childcare providers themselves has been recognised here.
“The importance of giving children healthy meals and drinks and the social role of food in their development came through among the priorities for those responding to Dame Tickell’s call for evidence, and this is reflected in her advice to Ministers.”
The recommendations from the Advisory Panel on Food and Nutrition in the Early Years can be read in full here .
