A recent survey of over 500 childcare providers in the UK reveals that many are struggling to provide nutritious meals for children due to rising food costs. According to data shared with The Guardian by the Early Years Alliance and the London Early Years Foundation, nearly 1 in 10 childcare providers had turned to food charities for assistance, and nearly 62 percent had to use cheaper ingredients in their meals.
Over half of providers said they were forced to pass on costs to parents as a result of the cost of living crisis, and nearly half said they had seen evidence of food insecurity among families in their care. The average cost of a full-time nursery place for a child under 2 in the UK is 14,000 pounds, making it more expensive than mortgages or rent for many families.
Despite some households receiving free childcare hours, providers still find the rates insufficient. The survey also revealed that half of the locations showed indicators of food insecurity.
The head of the London Early Years Foundation, June O’Sullivan, recently addressed the widening funding gap between the government and the foundation. A Labour lawmaker, Emma Lewell-Buck, is advocating for the Healthy Start program to be made available to all families receiving universal credit and for its value to be increased annually in line with inflation. A spokesperson for the Department of Education stated that the government is exploring ways to improve the cost, flexibility, and availability of childcare, as well as investing in staff training. The “incredibly concerning” findings of the survey have prompted calls for ministers to provide additional funds to nurseries.
