Please find below a comment from Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, on a new report from the Cross-Party Group on A Fit and Healthy Childhood which highlights the growing crisis in early years nutrition.

Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said:

“We know that access to healthy and nutritious meals and snacks is vital for young children’s development and yet, as this report shows, it has become increasingly commonplace for children to show up to early years settings hungry.

“Given the recent widening of free school meals criteria and the rollout of free breakfast clubs – alongside the continued rollout of universal free school meals for children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 – it’s clear that the government recognises the importance of ensuring children have access to healthy meals as part of education provision. Why, then, should it be any different for children in the early years? 

“If the government is serious about giving all children the best start in life, it needs to ensure that no child is being asked to learn while hungry – and that must include those children at the most important years of their development.

“We therefore continue to urge the government to provide additional early years funding specifically to cover the cost of meals and snacks in settings – at the very least, to those children who would be eligible for free school meals.

“Such a step would go a long way to protecting children’s future health and wellbeing.”