• Home
• About us
• FAQs
• News
  • Policy
  • Press releases
    • Press Releases 2008
    • Press Releases 2007
    • Press Releases 2006
    • Press Releases 2005
    • Press Releases 2004
    • Press Releases 2003
  • Events
  • Contacts
• Learning Zone
• Our childcare
• Early years nutrition
• EY Essential
• Safe Environments
• Shop
• Research
• Services
• Membership
• Vacancies
• Volunteers
• Baby and Toddler
• Resources
• Campaign
• Parents
• Links
• Login
• Donate
• Contact Us

Act Now to bridge the early years nutrition gap says Alliance, as it launches new training scheme for practitioners

NEWS RELEASE

26 January 2006

Act Now to bridge the early years nutrition gap says Alliance, as it launches new training scheme for practitioners

The Pre-school Learning Alliance today warned the government that it risks letting down future generations of children if it fails to bridge the nutrition gap in the early years.

At a major conference in London, the charity also launched a new programme of nutritional training for pre-school practitioners. The scheme, which will include practical skills to plan recipes and menus is part of the Alliance’s Feeding Young Imaginations initiative, supported by the British Nutrition Foundation and nutritionalist and author Annabel Karmel, which aims to promote healthy eating in young children.

Delegates at the conference, Feeding Young Imaginations: bridging the nutrition gap for children under five, heard perspectives from nutritionalists, academics, government officials and practitioners about the importance of establishing healthy eating habits from birth. In particular, the conference explored the relationship between nutrition and cognitive development and how the sector can work together to improve the nation’s long-term health.

The Alliance also launched a national training scheme for pre-school practitioners, run in conjunction with the British Nutrition Foundation. The scheme, which is the first of its kind in the country, hopes to reach as many pre-school practitioners as possible within three years, equipping practitioners with the skills to plan recipes and menus that are nutritionally balanced.

A child’s future health and social well-being are known to be affected by diet in the early years. Yet many practitioners feel that, while the government has signified its commitment to drastically improve the provision of healthy meals to school age children, there is a gap in nutritional information and resources for those caring for children in early years settings.

Steve Alexander, Chief Executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance said in his opening remarks to the conference

“The relatively recent expansion of daycare means that many children are getting the majority of their daily nutrients in food provided outside the home. But I never fail to be astonished by the disparity in the attention afforded to schools at the expense of early years settings. Why, when we know that a child’s future health and well-being is affected by diet in the early years, when food preferences begin to be established, does investment and policy focus almost exclusively on schools?”

“In developing strategies to improve the nation’s health, Ministers and officials must start from birth. Not school age, when predilections for the high salt, high sugar foods are in evidence. The Department of Health itself has recognised that childcare providers are in a powerful position to influence the diets of young children. However, its research found that approaches and practices within early years settings vary widely”.

“So, let’s bridge this gap without delay. Because if we don’t, we risk not only letting this generation down, but all the generations to follow”.

“Those working with young children need to be equipped with the necessary skills to plan recipes and menus that are nutritionally balanced. I am delighted to announce today that, in conjunction with the BNF, we intend to roll out a nutrition training programme for early years professionals, beginning in the summer. To my knowledge, it will be the first of its kind in the country and we hope that we can reach as many practitioners as possible over the next three years”.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Ben Miskell
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7014 9322
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Ben Miskell