Feeding Young Imaginations: Bridging the nutrition gap for children under five
NEWS RELEASE
16 January 2006
Feeding Young Imaginations: Bridging the nutrition gap for children under five
A major conference for early years practitioners and local authorities will take place on Thursday 26 January focusing on the provision of healthy food for children under five. The event, hosted by the Pre-school Learning Alliance is the result of an overwhelming response to the charity’s Feeding Young Imaginations campaign which aims to improve information on nutrition for practitioners and parents.
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.
This one-day conference aims to bridge this gap. It will focus specifically on the provision of healthy meals to children under five. It will highlight the need to work closely with parents and early years professionals, food suppliers and health visitors to demonstrate positive examples of existing programmes and initiatives. The conference will also provide the best tools for parents and early years professionals aiming to improve meals at home and in settings.
Delegates will hear perspectives from government, nutritionalists, food writers, the food industry and early years professionals. Speakers include
- Rachel Atkinson, Department of Health
- Dr Tim Lobstein – Director, Food Commission
- Annabel Karmel – Author of the Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner
- Dr Bernard Gesch, Senior Research Scientist, Dept of Physiology, Oxford University
- Stephanie Valentine – Director of Education, British Nutrition Foundation
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Andrew Fletcher
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7014 9301
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531 130
E: Andrew Fletcher
Notes for Editors:
- The Pre-school Learning Alliance links 15,000 pre-schools and 500,000 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