Nursery Food: Common Inspection Framework - Health check

Ofsted inspectors are putting greater emphasis than ever before on how early years settings are supporting children to keep themselves healthy under the new Common Inspection Framework (CIF), introduced last month. Food and learning about healthy eating are mentioned specifically in the CIF, and nursery managers now have to demonstrate they are providing a well-balanced diet and creating a healthy culture throughout the setting.

An Ofsted spokesperson says it is important that young children are fed healthy and nutritious food. ‘When inspectors go into early years settings, they check that young children are learning about how to keep themselves healthy through eating and exercising. An inspector will normally look at the early years setting’s menu and the food preparation arrangements,’ he says.

Writing to the All-Parliamentary Group on School Food chair Sharon Hodgson earlier this year, Ofsted’s national director for education Sean Harford said that as part of the new judgement on ‘personal development, behaviour and welfare’, inspectors will look for evidence of a ‘culture or ethos of exercise and healthy eating throughout the entire inspection visit’.

He added that this will include looking at the food on offer, judging the atmosphere in the dining area and speaking to managers about how they work towards children having a healthy lifestyle. Under the judgement on ‘leadership and management’, inspectors will also consider the ‘breadth and balance of the curriculum, of which practical cookery is now a part’.

When questioned about what training inspectors are receiving in order to judge the food that early years settings provide, the Ofsted spokesperson will only say, ‘On that point I can say that all our inspectors are trained in all aspects of the CIF.’

School Food Plan, which supports schools to improve the quality of food provision, has provided practical guidance to help school leaders adopt a whole school approach to food, and it is understood that Ofsted inspectors will be referred to it.

Myles Bremner, director of School Food Plan, says, ‘While inspectors will be looking at the food on offer and visiting the dining room, they will be making a judgement on it, rather than checking that the food meets nutritional standards.

‘It is important that Ofsted is recognising the importance of good nutrition and healthy eating and that education establishments deliver appropriate healthy environments. With the impending rise of free childcare to 30 hours, the role of lunch has become even more important.’

The guidance is separated into four areas: