New healthy eating guidance issued for early-years education
New guidance has been issued to help providers of early-years education to plan tasty, nutritious and healthy meals for the children in their care.
Jointly developed by the Department for Education, the Department of Health and Public Health England, the new resources include example menus and recipes and have been created with input from nutrition experts, including the British Nutrition Foundation.
Advice will be offered on the healthiest way of providing meals and snacks throughout the day, with parents also able to consult the guidance to help them prepare better-quality meals at home and introduce their children to new foods. The new advice has been issued in response to concerns that more and more children are starting school already overweight, which can increase their likelihood of developing long-term health issues in later life.
As such, the government has launched a broad-ranging Childhood Obesity Plan to significantly reduce childhood obesity over the next decade, with this new guidance supporting these efforts by helping early-years settings to meet the latest government dietary recommendations.
Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, said: "This is an important milestone in introducing healthy balanced meals from a young age. With far too many children entering school already overweight or obese, early years settings play an important role in helping children to develop good habits and avoid poor health later in life."
Other key elements of the Childhood Obesity Plan include taxing sugary drinks, helping children to exercise more and cutting sugar and calories in food. Schools have also been encouraged to ensure all children are able to enjoy an hour of physical activity every day.
Sign up to posts
Related jobs
Salary
£14.25 - 16.83 per hour
Location free text
Staines
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Early Years
Location
Surrey
Description
Experienced Nursery Practitioners Needed Full-Time | Part-Time | Temporary | Flexible HoursTeaching Personnel are currently recruiting experienced and passionate Nursery Practitioners to join our grow
Reference
Nursery Staff (3)
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Thames Valley PrimaryAuthor
Thames Valley PrimarySalary
£1.9k - 2.1k per month
Location free text
Seaton
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
Less than £100 per day
£100 - £199 per day
£10 - £19 per hour
£20 - £29 per hour
Sector
Early Years
Location
Devon
Description
Level 3 Early Years Practitioner – Full Time Seaton Immediate Start We are currently looking for a passionate and reliable Level 3 Early Years Practitioner to join a welcoming nursery setting in a l
Reference
Level 3 TA, full tim
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Exeter BranchAuthor
Exeter BranchSalary
£168.80 - 261.78 per day
Location free text
Skipton
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teacher
Location
North Yorkshire
Description
Early Years TeacherBD24Full-Time: September 2026 Competitive Daily Rate: £168.80 - £261.78 (dependent on experience)Are you ready to make a real impact in the classroom? Can you engage and inspire
Reference
EYFS Teach BD23
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire East PrimaryAuthor
Lancashire East PrimarySalary
£14.25 - 15.50 per hour
Location free text
Skipton
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Early Years
Location
North Yorkshire
Description
Are you a caring, enthusiastic and dedicated EYFS Teaching Assistant eager to join our Early Years team?This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about supporting young children’s learning and
Reference
EYFS TA BD23
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire East PrimaryAuthor
Lancashire East PrimarySalary
£14.25 - 15.00 per hour
Location free text
Childwall
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Teaching Assistant
Location
Merseyside
Description
Nursery Practitioner – EYFS (Level 2–6)Childwall (L16), Liverpool Flexible weekly bookingsSeptember 2026£14.25 – £15.00 per hourAre you a passionate and qualified Early Years Practitioner looking for
Reference
TG - 140526
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Liverpool Primary
Author
Liverpool PrimarySalary
£14.25 - 14.25 per hour
Location free text
Swansea
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
£100 - £199 per day
Less than £500 per week
£500 - £749 per week
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Early Years
Location
Swansea
Description
We’re Hiring: Early Years Practitioner Are you passionate about making a real difference in children’s lives from the very start? We’re recruiting for a rewarding opportunity starting September 2026
Reference
606.NN
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Swansea PrimaryAuthor
Swansea PrimarySalary
£14.25 - 15.00 per hour
Location free text
Blackburn
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
£10 - £19 per hour
Sector
Early Years
Location
Blackburn
Description
Speech and Language Teaching Assistant (EYFS & Key Stage 1) Full-Time | Starting September | Primary School in BlackburnWe are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic Speech and Language Teaching Assista
Reference
S&L T.AS
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Lancashire East PrimaryAuthor
Lancashire East PrimarySalary
£92.63 - 92.63 per day
Location free text
Cardiff
Job Type
Flexible Working
Salary
Less than £100 per day
£100 - £199 per day
Sector
Early Years
Location
Cardiff
Description
About the role:Location – Cardiff (CF10/CF11)Pay - £92.63 Per Day Start Date – ASAP Hours – Full-Time, Part time, Flexible, Temporary or Permanent Are you currently looking for a Teaching Assistant ro
Reference
MZTA12
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Cardiff West PrimaryAuthor
Cardiff West PrimarySalary
£32,916 - 47,300 per year
Location free text
Devizes
Job Type
Permanent
Salary
£30,000 - £39,999
£40,000 - £49,999
Sector
Teacher
Location
Wiltshire
Description
Inspire Early Learning Through Specialist SEND Education Teaching Personnel are proud to support a highly regarded specialist provision in Wiltshire seeking an empathetic and imaginative PMLD EYFS Te
Reference
HK964
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Dorset SENAuthor
Dorset SENSalary
£90 - 94 per day
Location free text
Milborne Port
Job Type
Full Time
Salary
Less than £100 per day
Sector
Early Years
Location
Somerset
Description
Level 3 Childcare Practitioner – Yeovil Start Date: September 2026 (earlier start available) Pay: £90–£94 per dayWe are seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Level 3 Childcare Practitioner to join a w
Reference
Level31305
Expiry Date
DD01YY
Author
Dorset PrimaryAuthor
Dorset PrimaryRelated posts
Teaser
People & CultureContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD05YY
Summary
As Teaching Personnel marks 30 years, Danielle shares her experience of building a career with the company over the past 11 years. She's completed an apprenticeship, managed a branch and w
Teaser
People & CultureContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD04YY
Summary
Patrick highlights a decade of his work as Teaching Personnel celebrates a milestone of 10 years.He's built relationships with schools and his own management style to successfully run a branch
Teaser
People & CultureContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD04YY
Summary
As Teaching Personnel celebrates 30 years, we hear from Senior Branch Manager, Hannah James, who reflects on her time with us these past 11 years. The impact we have on our schools and educat
Teaser
People & CultureContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD04YY
Summary
As Teaching Personnel marks 30 years, Vicky shares her experience of building a career with the company over the past 11 years.She joined as a trainee recruitment consultant and has become an
Teaser
People & CultureContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD04YY
Summary
As we celebrate 30 years of making difference, get to know Rebecca who has worked at Teaching Personnel for nearly a decade. Being able to support schools and help place the right educators
Teaser
People & CultureContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD04YY
Summary
As Teaching Personnel celebrates its 30-year anniversary, Jenny reflects on a decade of working at Teaching Personnel.From starting as a teaching assistant to overseeing multiple branches, her
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD04YY
Summary
Gemma joined the Future Teachers Programme shortly after graduating. Now in a permanent teaching position, she reflects on how the programme shaped her classroom experience and supp
Teaser
People & CultureContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD04YY
Summary
Discover Ben Whittle’s role and find out about his impact within the Future Teachers Programme Read more How long have you been with Teaching Personnel and where are
Teaser
EducatorsContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD04YY
Summary
What motivated you to join the Future Teachers Programme? I was first motivated to join the programme when I was looking for different pathways into teaching that wasn’t the PGCE route. I was look
Teaser
Awareness DaysContent Type
TP-PostsPublish date
DD04YY
Summary
National Teaching Assistants’ Day is a chance to recognise the incredible impact teaching assistants have in classrooms every day. From supporting individual pupils to hel
Register with us
for work in schools across England & Wales
Register today
Recent job