�°������ϲʹ�������

The Early Years Alliance has issued a comment following the publication of new research from the Food Foundation which found that 27% of UK households with children under the age of four experienced food insecurity in January 2023.

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

“It is extremely concerning that more than a quarter of households with children under the age of four are facing food insecurity. 

“Every child, regardless of their circumstances, should be able to access affordable, healthy meals – and yet, we know that the cost-of-living crisis is heaping unbearable pressure on families and that, as a result, more and more young children are coming into early years settings hungry. 

“While providers are doing all they can to provide well-balanced, affordable meals and snacks, rising costs are making this a near-impossible task. We urge the government, therefore, to commit to providing specific funding for the delivery of healthy, nutritious food in early years settings as well as ensuring that early years funding actually covers the cost of delivering quality care and education more broadly. 

“It is often argued that no child should be expected to attend school hungry and yet, as this research shows, children in the early years are more likely to experience food insecurity than their older peers. As such, if the government is serious about tackling food insecurity among children, funding for healthy meals in early years settings must be made an urgent priority.”