Nurseries gain first Food for Life early years awards

The Soil Association has launched a national food award for early years settings.

Two Huddersfield nurseries are the first to achieve the Food for Life Early Years Award: Oakwood House Nursery and Forest School, part of the Portland Nursery Group; and Fixbees Nursery, owned by Birkbees.

Following pilots with 35 settings in West Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire, the scheme is now open to early years settings across the country.

Sian Creagh-Osborne, awards programme manager, Food for Life, said, ‘There are many early years settings who are incredibly committed to providing a good food culture for the babies and children they care for. The Food for Life Early Years Award provides a flexible framework, along with expert guidance and resources, to support settings to focus their efforts and provide children with the very best start to their food journey.

‘The award’s independent verification process, which includes an on-site visit, also offers reassurance to parents and carers that their child’s setting is following best practice.’

Samantha Richmond, manager of Oakwood House, said, ‘We put a huge focus on a healthy, varied, seasonal menu and ensure children learn why a healthy diet is so important, so they can make healthy choices.’

Children from Oakwood House nursery learnt about composting

She said the award had helped to focus the nursery’s efforts. As well as visiting a local farm, staff had received training on how to teach children as young as three how to use knives and vegetable peelers safely.

‘On St Patrick’s Day they made colcannon mash – peeled potatoes, took them to the cook and helped with the mashing. They’re taking part in preparing their own meals, using potato peelers and small knives.’

Tracey Fenton, director of Birkbees Nurseries, which has four nurseries in Huddersfield, including Fixbees, (pictured right and below), said of the award, ‘It just felt right for our nursery. Food for Life seemed perfect. We started building up the portfolio for the criteria. Elements of the award are based on growing, so we started visiting the local allotment.’

She added that the award had also involved educating the staff about food.

‘We made guacamole. Not all of the staff had even tried an avocado before. We need to get staff on board before children and we try to encourage them to eat more healthily.’

She said parents have asked the nursery to write a cookbook, and it is running food-based ‘stay and play’ sessions, with parents and children making soup and bread together. ‘We try to encourage them not to give their children sweets as a reward. Oral health is so important. It’s an education for everyone,’ she added.

GET INVOLVED

Nurseries and childminders can find details of the programme at www.foodforlife.org.uk/earlyyears and specific information on the awards package resources at www.foodforlife.org.uk/early-years/packages/resource-packs

Award structure

The award is based on four areas:

• Food quality (ensuring it meets national nutrition guidelines, is freshly prepared and sustainably sourced).
• Food leadership & food culture (development of a food policy, ensuring that children have a positive dining experience).
• Food education (supporting early learning around food through practical cooking and growing activities).
• Community, partnerships and parental engagement (extending a good food culture beyond the nursery gate by involving parents and carers).