Food quality may be hit by 30 hours offer

Early years providers are concerned that some children signed up to the free hours for three- and four-year-olds will be eating packed lunches as nurseries and childminders struggle to provide enough hot and nutritious food with the funding provided.

The online survey was carried out in October and November last year. A total of 367 responses were received, with the majority answering all the questions.

It reveals that more than four out of ten providers (43 per cent) believe the 30-hour offer will negatively impact their setting’s food provision.

Of these, more than half said they would not have enough funding to provide food for children taking up the 30 hours, and around a third said they would ask parents using the entitlement to provide packed lunches if their children would be attending the setting over lunchtime.

Many respondents were also unclear as to whether the funding for the 30 hours would cover the cost of providing meals for the children (see box).

The majority (64 per cent) were of the opinion that it should cover food costs for all children using the entitlement; and an even higher number, 77 per cent, said they believed that the funding should include the cost of food for the most deprived families using it – that is, children who would be eligible for free school meals.

Around one in five respondents said they would fund food for the most deprived children themselves. One nursery owner said they would use their Early Years Pupil Premium funding to provide food for children from low-income families.

Time was also an issue, particularly for childminders, with one saying they would need to hire a cook, which the funding would not pay for.

On food quality, the cost of ingredients and limited preparation time were cited most frequently as challenges to providing healthy food for children in daycare.

The survey’s report said this was a worry given that it is envisaged the 30 hours will contribute to increased pressure on providers’ time, as well as concerns around funding food for children accessing the offer.

Packed lunches

Views were mixed on the provision of packed lunches. While some settings said that they would be asking parents to provide food, others were less keen because they said parents sent children in with ‘unhealthy lunches’. One respondent commented that they could not have parents sending children in with their own lunches because children with severe food allergies attended the nursery.

Commenting on the findings, Children’s Food Trust head of nutrition Dr Patricia Mucavele said, ‘One of the things we really want to explore further now is the indication that more parents will be asked to send in packed lunches for children taking up the 30 hours entitlement as childcare providers struggle to fund food for those taking up
the offer.

‘That means more children only having cold food during their day in childcare – which is typically less varied and nutritious than a hot meal.’

The trust’s previous 2013 survey suggested packed lunches in early years are less healthy compared with food provided by settings, with four out of ten children being sent in with crisps and a quarter with confectionery.

Food sources

Nearly all respondents (98 per cent) provided some food. Nine out of ten said their setting was responsible for its own catering, including shopping, preparation, cooking and serving food.

Nearly three-quarters provided food on four or more occasions during the day.

Ninety-three per cent of settings said they bought their food from supermarkets, 43 per cent said they used local shops, and eight per cent used a catering supplier.

Over half bought their food from one supplier only, which in most cases was a supermarket.