Rising costs hit children’s meals in settings
By Rachel Lawler
The increasing cost of nutritious food is making it challenging for early years providers to serve healthy meals, as more young children are arriving at settings hungry, according to new research from the Alliance and LEYF.
A survey of 500 early years providers found that 94% had been impacted by increased food costs, with 62% forced to use cheaper ingredients and some (9%) turning to food redistribution charities for support. More than half of providers (56%) said that they had been forced to pass on increased costs to parents.
Worryingly, providers also reported an increase in the number of families at their setting struggling with food insecurity. Just under half of those surveyed (49%) said that they had seen an increase in the number of children arriving to their setting hungry. 82% of providers said that they would support the idea of additional government funding specifically for meals and snacks.
Currently, while all children in reception, year 1 and year 2 attending state-funded schools in England are eligible for a free school lunch, government funding for 15 and 30 hours offer does not currently cover the provision of any food.
Private Department for Education policy documents from 2015, published following an Alliance Freedom of Information request, state: “We want to ensure that state funding only meets necessary costs. So we will strip out funding for consumables (food, nappies) – and set an expectation that providers charge parents for these.”
Statutory guidance for local authorities on the provision of childcare and early education states that government funding is “not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours or additional services”.
Neil Leitch, CEO of the Alliance, said: “With so many families struggling during the cost-of-living crisis, we know that for some children, the food they receive at their nursery, pre-school or childminder might well be their only opportunity for a healthy meal. The fact, therefore, that more and more providers are themselves struggling to provide nutritious food – or to do so at an affordable price – is a real cause for concern.
“The government’s decision to strip the cost of meals and snacks out of early years funding has placed yet another burden onto parents and providers – one that they are increasingly unable to afford.
“It is vital therefore, that as well as ensuring that early years funding actually covers the cost of delivering quality care and education, the government also provides specific funding for the delivery of healthy, nutritious food in early years settings.
“Good nutrition is a fundamental part of education. We all rightly argue that no child should be expected to attend school hungry – so why should it be any different for children in the early years?"