Sarah Mackenzie: Updated guidance sparks extra confusion and unintended chaos

The updated charging guidance from the Department for Education has sparked confusion, frustration, and – let's face it – unintended chaos. As providers, we constantly think through the impact of our actions, weighing risks and benefits. That same level of thought doesn't seem to have been applied to the new guidance, and who loses?

Let's take food as an example. The guidance says meals must be optional, with parents free to bring their own packed lunches instead. On the surface, this seems reasonable – children take packed lunches into schools and some pre-schools. But picture the reality: a baby in nursery all day with a packed breakfast, snack, lunch and tea. Children at an age where they'll lunge for another child's food, especially when allergens aren't controlled. And let's not even talk about the health impact of sending a child in with food that doesn't meet the nutritional standards nurseries work hard to maintain. The DfE suggests we might encourage parents to opt in or out of food with a term's notice. But if fewer children opt in, the cost per child of high-quality food goes up. Should parents face fluctuating meal costs based on other parents' decisions? Isn't this just another policy that deepens the disadvantage attainment gap?