Healthy eating in Schools and Settings
Healthy eating in Schools and Settings
Children’s food preferences and eating habits are formed early in life with consequences for a range of health and development outcomes in later life. It is therefore important that the food offered in early years and school settings provides appropriate amounts of energy and nutrients and encourages the development of healthy eating habits in young children, both to support appropriate growth and development, and as part of national priorities to reduce childhood obesity and ensure every child has the best start in life.
Early years foundation stage statutory framework
Where children are provided with meals, snacks, and drinks, these must be healthy, balanced and nutritious. Fresh drinking water must always be available and accessible to children.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework outlines the essential standards that all early years settings must meet to promote children's learning, development, health, and safety.
From September 2025, a new element will be added to the safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS. This update will require providers to consider and apply the official nutrition guidance, unless there is a good reason not to do so.
This guidance is designed to help settings meet the existing EYFS expectation that any food and drink offered to children must be healthy, balanced, and nutritious.
Further resources and information:
A charity which aims to give people, educators, and organisations access to information on nutrition.
Help for early years providers - Nutrition
Resources to help support children’s wellbeing, build strong relationships with food and ideas to enrich pedagogy and practice.
Free resources for teaching young people from 3 years about where food comes from, cooking and healthy eating.
PhunkyFoods is a health-focused programme designed to teach early years school children essential knowledge on healthy eating, physical activity and promote positive health behaviours among children and their families.
And the below to the “Working in partnership with parents”:
Phunky Foods: Parents and Families
Phunky Foods strives to give information for positive steps towards a happier and healthier lifestyle at home.
Working in partnership with parents
Here you will find activity suggestions and resources to engage with parents and carers.
Parental engagement - Food A Fact Of Life
For more information on the School Food regulations, please see School food standards: resources for schools - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Best Start in Life health advice - NHS
NHS advice on pregnancy, babies and supporting toddler’s development.
A booklet with information, games, and ideas, which aim to help parents and educators increase children’s (2-7 years) confidence to try new foods using sensory activities.
The Best Start in Life website is a UK government initiative designed to support parents and caregivers by providing information from pregnancy through early childhood. It serves as a central hub for guidance on childcare options, parenting advice, child development, and school readiness.
Books to use with children
