Improving food provision in child care in England: a stakeholder analysis

To review national policy governing nutrition in child-care settings and explore policy translation at a regional and local level in the South East of England.

Semi-structured interviews with regional experts.

Child-care settings in Southampton, England, registered by OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education Children's Services and Skills).

Thirteen subjects including child-care professionals in Southampton and policy advisors from the Government Office of the South East.

Policy regarding early years food provision varies across the country. Although there appears to be consensus between local stakeholders on the importance of improving early years nutrition in Southampton, intentions have yet to be translated into cohesive action, with differences in food and nutrition practice in child-care settings across the city. There are also areas of incoherence, inequalities in access to training and development, and duplication in local and regional support mechanisms.

The importance of proper early nutrition to provide the building blocks for life-long health and well-being is grounded in a substantial evidence base. Outside the home, early years child-care settings are an ideal place for providing a strong foundation in nutritional health and dietary habits for young children. The long-term benefits of achieving optimum nutrition in the early years should be secured through the coherent efforts of national, regional and local policy makers, child-care practitioners and parents. Existing commitment and capacity to achieve this objective at a local and regional level must be supported and matched at a national level with the acceleration of policy development, including quality control and support mechanisms.