More funding needed as a growing number of under-fives are arriving at early years settings hungry

COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS: Call for extra government funding as new research finds growing number of under-fives arriving at early years settings hungry

Rising costs are making it extremely challenging for nurseries, pre-schools and childminders to serve affordable, healthy and nutritious food at a time when growing numbers of young children are arriving at their settings hungry, new research from early years membership organisation the Early Years Alliance and London-based nursery group, London Early Years Foundation (LEYF).

Both organisations are calling on the government to provide additional early years funding specifically to cover the cost of meals and snacks in settings to ensure all young children have access to healthy and nutritious food.

The research, which was undertaken in October 2022 and comprised of a survey of 500 responses and two qualitative focus groups, found that 94% of providers say that the food they provide to children attending their setting has been impacted by rising food costs, with more than a third (35%) stating this is having a significant impact.

As a result, more than six in ten (62%) of respondents say they have been forced to use cheaper ingredients when providing meals, while just under one in six (15%) have reduced their portion sizes. What’s more, almost one in ten (9%) have used food redistribution charities, such as FareShare, to provide food in settings. 

Despite these steps, over half of respondents (56%) say they have had no option but to pass costs onto parents, with nearly one in three (28%) having to charge families higher fees for meals and snacks and the same proportion (28%) forced to charge families more for early years places to enable them to be able to cover the cost of food. 

Even more concerningly, these challenges come at a time when early years professionals are reporting growing signs of food insecurity (i.e. a lack of reliable access to sufficient affordable, nutritious food) among families). In total, just under half (49%) of providers say children and/or families at their settings were showing signs of food insecurity, with respondents noting an increase in the number of children arriving at their setting hungry.

82% of survey respondents support the idea of additional government funding for early years settings, specifically earmarked for meals and snacks.

As it stands, 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 the so-called ‘free childcare’ 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.”

Current 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 Early Years Alliance, said: 

“The fact that early years providers are finding it increasingly difficult to provide affordable, healthy meals to children attending their setting. despite their very best efforts, is incredibly concerning.

“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?

June O’Sullivan, CEO of the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), adds:  

“Early Years providers know that hungry children simply can’t learn which is why they are desperate to continue serving food to them. But as the gulf grows between stagnant government funding and increasing costs, many providers are left with little choice but to push these costs onto parents – which of course affects families who are already struggling the most.

"All children attending LEYF nurseries are lucky enough to benefit from healthy meals at no additional cost – cooked by our specially trained chefs, but it shouldn’t be down to luck whether they get the food they need to grow, learn and thrive. Without doubt, the UK government must now recognise the crucial importance of food in education, and adequately support providers to deliver it now.”

Survey and focus group responses included: 

“Government funding does not adequately cover the cost of the childcare. That means I feel that cuts have to happen somewhere. I fear it will only get worse due to food prices rocketing and energy prices are astronomical. There is already a childcare crisis. More places will fold, and more will drop food standards because it’s the only place you CAN make cuts.

“We would love to provide breakfast and/or lunch but cannot afford to do this for free.  We give extra portions of snacks to those that we know may not have food of nutritional value at home.”

“The best way to improve the situation, as with everything in early years, would be to completely overhaul the sector by paying fair wages to qualified staff, and to significantly increase early years funding to allow this to happen and also to allow settings to afford to provide food to children.”

“There needs to be funding for food included in the 30 hours funding so that children have a nutritious meal included daily. Good nutrition is important for learning and the current 30 hours funding nowhere near covers a meal.”

"We've recently had to introduce a snack fee to help cover increasing costs, we didn't like doing so but it was unavoidable. It has helped us buy and serve a wider range of snack and breakfast food, review our provision overall and also to provide a healthy lunch once a half term as an example to the children and parents/carers."