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Alliance welcomes Ofsted report into childcare providing Food for Thought

NEWS RELEASE

31 March 2006

Alliance welcomes Ofsted report into childcare providing Food for Thought

Leading early years charity the Pre-school Learning Alliance today welcomed a report from Ofsted which found that most childcare providers placed a strong emphasis on providing nutritious food and healthy diets for the children in their care.

Pre-school Learning Alliance Chief Executive, Steve Alexander said:

"We welcome Ofsted’s recognition of the remarkable work that is going on in pre-schools and other childcare settings to ensure children grow up healthy and with positive attitudes to nutritious food. The Alliance has long encouraged pre-schools to provide good food, but also to teach children about healthy choices, laying the foundations for a life of good nutrition and health.

However, it is important to acknowledge that to continue the good work, there has to be more investment from the government, much as has been seen at primary and secondary school level. Our ongoing Feeding Young Imaginations campaign has shown us that there is a gap in nutritional information relating to children under five that needs to be filled. Practitioners need more advice and practical training to ensure high quality across the board.

The early years are the time that attitudes to food are formed, and this chance to influence eating habits for future generations must not be missed if the government is serious about improving the long term health of our children."

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Anna Roberts
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7697 2504
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Anna Roberts

Notes for Editors:

  1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance links 15,000 pre-schools and 800,000 young children and their families in England. Established in 1961 and registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is involved in more Sure Start projects than any other organisation and operates a number of Neighbourhood Nurseries. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: www.pre-school.org.uk
  2. Feeding Young Imaginations is an ongoing campaign in association with the British Nutrition Foundation to support childcare practitioners and parents to improve nutritional standards for children under five years old. The Alliance have produced Nutritional Guidance for the Under Fives providing information for practitioners, and will be rolling out a training scheme for practitioners across the country during 2006. Visit www.pre-school.org.uk/food for further information on the campaign.
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