14 October 2025
Alliance launches new service to help early years settings meet new EYFS nutrition requirements
Leading early years membership organisation the Early Years Alliance has launched a new suite of services and resources to help settings ensure they are taking a proactive approach to providing healthy and nutritious meals and snacks.
Launched this week, the Early Years Nutrition Support service has been developed in partnership with registered nutritionists and dietitians, and features a suite of comprehensive nutrition resources to help settings promote healthy eating best practice and meet new EYFS requirements on early years nutrition, including:
- Comprehensive resource packs for settings delivering meals and snacks, and those accepting food from home – including sample menus, recipes and policy templates
- Virtual consultations and support
- A menu-checking service
- Menu and recipe development service
- Virtual staff training
- Support for packed lunches and other food from home
All resources have been developed in line with new DfE nutrition guidance, which came into effect in September 2025, and providers can mix and match the resources that work for them.
Once a setting has made their first purchase, they will get access to the Early Years Nutrition Support ‘Committed’ logo to display on their website and any promotional material, demonstrating their commitment to good nutrition.
The full range of resources and services are available to access on EYA Central, the Alliance’s training and resource hub, central.eyalliance.org.uk.
Commenting on the launch, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Alliance, said:
“We at the Alliance are thrilled to be offering further support to settings to ensure they are promoting healthy eating best practice in light of the new government nutrition guidance.
“We know that access to healthy and nutritious meals and snacks is vital for young children’s development and all children, regardless of their background or circumstances, should have access to this. As we head into the autumn and winter months, many family budgets will be stretched and, for some children, the meals they receive at their early years setting could be the only nutritious meals they receive during the week.
“We hope that educators find these resources supportive and easy to integrate in the all-important work they do each and every day.”