COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS: Call for extra government funding as new research finds growing number of under-fives arriving at early years settings hungry
The Early Years Alliance has issued a press release on a survey carried out by the Early Years Alliance and London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) which explored the challenges associated with giving children attending early years settings access to healthy, balanced and nutritious meals. The survey found:
- In total, 94% of early years 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.
- Providers also reported signs of food insecurity among families with just under half (49%) of providers noting that 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.
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. Whatâs 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 âfree childcareâ 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: âWe want to ensure that state funding only meets necessary costs. So we will strip out funding for consumables (food, nappies) â and set an expectation that providers charge parents for these.â
Current statutory guidance for local authorities on the provision of childcare and early education states that government funding is ânot intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours or additional servicesâ.
Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:
âThe 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.
âWith 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 â or to do so at an affordable price â is a real cause for concern.
âThe governmentâs decision to strip the cost of meals and snacks out of early years funding has placed yet another burden onto parents and providers â one that they are increasingly unable to afford.
âIt 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.
âGood nutrition is a fundamental part of education. We all rightly argue that no child should be expected to attend school hungry â so why should it be any different for children in the early years?
June OâSullivan, CEO of the London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), adds:
âEarly Years providers know that hungry children simply canât 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 â 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 â cooked by our specially trained chefs, but it shouldnât 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.â
Survey and focus group responses included:
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âGovernment 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 itâs the only place you CAN make cuts.
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âWe 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.â
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âThe 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.â
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âThere 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.â
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"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."
EDITOR NOTES
The research comprised of a survey which ran from 4 to 25 October 2022 and received 500 responses, and two qualitative focus groups held virtually on 18 October 2022
KEY FINDINGS
How would you describe your provision/organisation or yourself?
Private day nursery or pre-school 52%
Voluntary day nursery or pre-school 27%
Childminder professional 10%
Maintained nursery school 2%
Local authority 2%
Primary school nursery class 1%
Baby and toddler group 1%
Out of hours club 1%
Other (please specify) 4%
How many children does your setting/s typically accommodate at one time?
100+ children at a time in one setting (across a group or chain) 2%
100+ children at a time in one setting 2%
50-99 children at a time in one setting (across a group or chain) 3%
50-99 children at a time in one setting 11%
30-49 children at a time (across group or chain) 8%
30-49 children at a time 22%
10-29 children at a time (across group or chain) 10%
10-29 children at a time 31%
<10 children at a time 12%
What meals or snacks does your setting/s provide? (choose all that apply)
Breakfast 47%
Morning Snack 88%
Lunch 50%
Afternoon Snack 75%
Dinner 37%
None-children bring pack lunch/snacks 13%
Who is generally in charge of preparing meal/snacks in your setting/s?
Teaching staff prepare food on site 59% (percentage of total)
Teaching staff prepare food on site 28% (percentage of settings who serve lunch or dinner)
Chef or cook prepares food from scratch on site 29% (percentage of total)
Chef or cook prepares food from scratch on site 52% (percentage of settings who serve lunch or dinner)
Pre-made meals from supplier (Fresh) 4% (percentage of total)
Pre-made meals from supplier (Fresh) 7% (percentage of settings who serve lunch or dinner)
School catering staff 4% (percentage of total)
School catering staff 6% (percentage of settings who serve lunch or dinner)
Another (non-school) co-located service provides the meals 2% (percentage of total)
Another (non-school) co-located service provides the meals 3% (percentage of settings who serve lunch or dinner)
Pre-made meals from supplier (frozen) 1% (percentage of total)
Pre-made meals from supplier (frozen) 2% (percentage of settings who serve lunch or dinner)
To what extent are rising costs having an impact on food provision in your setting?
A big impact 35%
Some impact 43%
A small impact 16%
No impact 6%
Has your setting/s taken any of the following measures in response to rising costs? (choose all that apply)
Using cheaper ingredients 62%
Charging families higher fees for places 28%
Charging families higher fees for lunches, meals and snacks 28%
Changing supplier 18%
Reducing capital expenditure 17%
Reducing portion size 15%
Using local food redistribution schemes, e.g FareShare 9%
Reducing number of meals or snacks offered 7%
Food insecurity (sometimes referred to as food poverty) is the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. You might notice signs of food insecurity such as children arriving to your setting/s hungry, or families mentioning that they are eating less at home.
To what extent have your setting/s seen signs of food insecurity amongst children or families?
Many of our children/families show signs of food insecurity 7%
Some of our children/families show signs of food insecurity 42%
None of our children/families show signs of food insecurity 38%
Not sure/canât tell 13%
Does your setting/s charge families using government-only funded provision for food at your setting/s?
We donât charge these families for meals (we absorb the cost ourselves) 36%
We do charge these families a supplemental food fee, but its optional and children can bring a packed lunch 29%
We do charge these families, but itâs not per meal (e.g. itâs an hourly or daily additional charge, or it is included within a wider consumable charge 25%
We charge these families a supplemental fee that is not optional 10%
Government funding specifically does not include money for meals or snacks. Would you support a call to ask the government to add an additional earmarked sum to cover the cost of snacks/meals in their funding?
Yes 82%
No 6%
Not sure 13%