This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Earlier start to healthy eating
23/01/2006
New guidance for nurseries and childminders on providing nutritious meals and snacks was unveiled today.
Deputy Education Minister Robert Brown today unveiled The Nutritional Guidance for Early Years - designed for under-fives in early education and childcare, such as nurseries, playgroups and childminders builds on the ground-breaking Hungry for Success programme in schools.
It includes:
- Nutritional information and recommendations on meals and snacks
- Advice on developing healthy eating habits
- Information on dental health and physical activity
Mr Brown said:
"Healthy eating is vital for all children and they're never too young to develop a taste for healthy options. If we can encourage them to choose healthy options from an early age, then they're more likely to stick with these as they grow up.
"Not only will wholesome meals and snacks give children the nutrients and energy they need for their nursery day, but there will also be long-term health benefits.
"We have already transformed school meals and now want to do even more for our children. This guidance gives childcare workers access to nutritional information and advice that will help them provide healthy and nutritious meals and snacks for future generations of Scots."
Celia Gardiner, NHS Health Scotland's Health Improvement Programme Manager: Early Years said:
"We're really pleased to see the development and publication of the Nutritional Guidance as it so strongly supports the work we have been taking forward with the development of Adventures in Foodland. I'm sure this will have a positive impact on the health of young children in Scotland."
Ronnie Hill, Director of Children's Services Regulation for the Care Commission, said:
"We welcome the Scottish Executive's healthy eating initiative. We believe the new guidelines will help all those involved in providing day care for children to improve the quality of food that is on offer.
"Over the next year, as part of our inspection programme, we will be asking providers about how they are using the guidelines. We are looking forward to working with them on this initiative, and seeing a positive impact on the health of Scotland's children."
For further details on the Nutritional Standards for Early Years click on the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent
Nutritionists from NHS Health Scotland drafted the text, in consultation with the Scottish Food and Health Co-ordinator Gillian Kynoch and officials from the Scottish Executive. Consultation on the Nutritional Guidance for Early Years took place between March and June 2005. The draft guidance was generally welcomed, and the final published version takes the comments made into account.
Early education and childcare settings are regulated by the Care Commission. The Care Commission was set up under the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 to regulate and inspect Scottish care services. It regulates around 4,500 day care and early education services for children - including nursery classes, crèches, after school clubs and play groups There are also more than 6,000 childminders in Scotland, regulated by the Care Commission. Standard 3.4, in the National Care Standards for Early Education and Childcare up to the Age of 16, expects that "children and young people have access to a well-balanced and healthy diet (where food is provided) which takes account of ethnic, cultural and dietary requirements, including food allergies."
The Nutritional Guidance is supported by Adventures in Foodland, a resource pack developed by Health Scotland specifically for people working with young children. Adventures in Foodland provides lots of factual and practical information that will help nurseries and childminders implement the guidance as well as having activities that give children the opportunity to have new experiences and fun with food.