Big news for everyone in Early Years! The Department for Education (DfE) has released new nutrition guidance, set to revolutionise how we approach healthy eating in settings across England, coming into effect this September (2025).
This essential update highlights the critical importance of a child’s diet, portions, and eating habits from 0-5 years old. While primarily for Early Years providers, it also sets a vital standard for parents, caterers, Ofsted inspectors, and local authorities.
The guidance is incredibly thorough, covering every feeding phase:
- From 0-6 months, it advises on safe breastfeeding and formula feeding, alongside crucial hygiene practices.
- From 6-12 months, it details readiness for solid foods, safe introduction methods, and how nutrition supports development.
The DfE has even provided helpful example meal plans for babies aged 7-9 months (blended/mashed, 4 milk feeds) and 10-12 months (chopped/minced, 3 milk feeds), complete with finger food suggestions.
Beyond infancy, the guidance extends to 1-5-year-olds, offering clear advice on:
- Healthy eating basics (including 5-a-day and the four main food groups).
- Appropriate portion sizes.
- Detailed food and drink guidelines.
- Understanding traffic light food labels.
This invaluable document is packed with practical information for both Early Years managers and parents, covering everything from meal planning to cost-effective strategies and crucial health and safety protocols.
We strongly recommend all nursery managers familiarise themselves with this new guidance immediately, as implementation begins in September 2025.
Want to understand the full implications for your nursery setting? Click here.