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Government's 'Healthy Blueprint' does not go far enough

NEWS RELEASE

6 September 2004

Government's 'Healthy Blueprint' does not go far enough

The Government's Healthy Blueprint should be extended to focus on children under five, the Pre-school Learning Alliance said today.

The Blueprint, launched today by Secretary of State for Education, Charles Clarke, sets out a fully comprehensive range of resources that schools can use to give children the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead healthy lives, including utilising the curriculum to teach the importance of a healthy lifestyle and ensuring access to the nutritious food and drink.

Commenting on the publication, Neil Leitch, Director of Communications for the Pre-school Learning Alliance said:

"The Government has recognised that the nation's future health is dependent on getting the basics right on food and nutrition early in a child's life. While the Blueprint's vision is to be welcomed, we believe that the programme could be strengthened by extending resources to target children under five years."

"Long term health and social well-being are known to be affected by diet in the early years. Pre-school age is a time when food preferences start to be established and when children start to become more active. That is why the Alliance has teamed up with the British Nutrition Foundation to deliver its Feeding Young Imaginations campaign, which seeks to help parents and early years settings with practical guidance on nutrition and to engage children in a healthy lifestyle early in life. A Healthy Blueprint should begin before children start school and we urge Government to support the early years sector in ensuring a healthy start for all children".

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Andrew Fletcher
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7833 0991
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Andrew Fletcher

Notes for Editors:

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance has 15,000 member pre-schools who look after 500,000 young children and their families in England every year. Registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is the national dimension of the pre-school movement. Its member pre-schools are based in the community and most are managed and run by parents, alongside trained staff. Feeding Young Imaginations is part of the charity's changing lives changing life campaign, which seeks to give all children the best possible start in life. For more information visit www.pre-school.org.uk or call 020 7833 0991
  2. The charity is involved in more Sure Start projects than any other organisation and aims to open around 30 Neighbourhood Nurseries by the end of the year.
  3. The Healthy Blueprint for Schools was launched today. Further information can be obtained at www.dfes.gov.uk
  4. Further information and all press releases are available on the Pre-school Learning Alliance's website: www.pre-school.org.uk or email pressoffice@pre-school.org.uk
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