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Press release: Most food provided by nurseries and childminders is healthy and nutritious

Most childcarers have a good knowledge of healthy eating and provide a nutritious and balanced diet for the young children in their care, according to a new report from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted). 74% of the childminders and 65% of the daycare providers inspected for this survey were judged as good or outstanding with regard to providing a healthy diet. No childminders, and only 4% of daycare providers, were judged inadequate.

Food for thought – A survey of healthy eating in registered daycare is based on a short survey carried out by childcare inspectors in 110 daycare settings around England, including crèches, nurseries, childminders and before and after-school clubs.

Inspectors found that most providers place a strong emphasis on home cooked nutritious food using fresh ingredients and low levels of salt, sugar and fat. They are aware of what constitutes a balanced diet and very few use processed foods. However, a small minority continue to offer sweets, crisps and biscuits.

Ofsted’s Director of Early Years, Dorian Bradley, said today:

"So much has been said over the last year about school meals, but few people have talked about the food that younger children are given to eat. I’m pleased to say the picture looks rosy. Childcarers, in the main, have embraced the concept of healthy eating and the wider benefits gained from it."

Many childcare providers now make sure that children eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. This is particularly true in pre-schools where in the past, snacks would have been biscuits rather than fruit.

Ofsted found that the best providers collect information about children’s likes and dislikes and work with their parents to get children to try new foods. However, we did find some providers who felt uncomfortable about tackling parents over what they put in children’s lunchboxes. Although in the minority, some providers did not record children’s dietary needs adequately. Staff in the best settings understand the difference between special diets for health reasons and those preferred by parents.

Ofsted recommends the following top tips for childcarers about healthy eating:

• Ensure details about parental and children’s preferences and dietary requirements are up to date and everyone working at the setting is aware of them.

• Plan menus carefully to give children a varied, balanced and nutritious diet, using expert advice if possible.

• Help children and their parents to understand the importance of a balanced diet and healthy eating.

• Pay attention to the presentation of food so that children are encouraged to try new things.

When Ofsted recently conducted an opinion poll to ask parents of school children about school meals, we also asked 48 parents of pre-school children who were cared for by a childminder or in a day nursery or playgroup/crèche about the provision and quality of food in these settings. Three quarters of these parents said food was provided for their child and of them, more than half said both snacks and a full meal were provided. Those who said food was provided for their child were generally positive about the quality of the food. Almost three quarters said the food provided was good or excellent. None said it was poor.

Notes For Editors

1. Food for thought – A survey of healthy eating in registered daycare will be published on the Ofsted website on Thursday 30 March 2006.

2. Ofsted has produced a separate briefing document on the opinion poll findings. Please contact the press office to receive a copy.

3. Ofsted is a non-ministerial government department established under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 to take responsibility for the inspection of all schools in England. Its role also includes the inspection of further education, local authority children’s services, teacher training institutions and some independent schools. During 2001, Ofsted became responsible for inspecting all 16-19 education and for the regulation of early years childcare, including childminders.

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