The early years EYFS statutory framework for England talks about 'adult modelling', 'healthy food choices', 'independence', 'balanced and nutritious snacks', 'suitable facilities' and 'healthy eating' in relation to food provision.
I note that inspection reports pick up on these requirements as well as other things inspectors have seen while observing staff and children at snack time.
These are some of the main positive and negative points in inspector feedback –
- Snacks are / are not healthy and nutritious.
- Children do / do not wash their hands before snack.
- Children do / do not help to set the table for snack.
- The childminder reads books to / does not sit with the children during snack time.
- The childminder does / does not offer children opportunities to be independent during snack time.
- Children are / are not involved in preparing and serving their snack.
- The childminder gives / does not give children time to finish activities before snack.
- Children are / are not given opportunities to try new food during snack.
- Children do / do not talk with staff about healthy eating during snack.
- Staff tell / do not tell children that fruit are one of their 5 a day.
- Children are / are not encouraged to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ at snack.
- The area where staff prepare food for children is not suitably equipped.
When you see a positive comment, it is usually in an inspection report linked to a 'good' or 'outstanding' graded setting; where you see a negative comment, it is usually in an inspection report linked to a 'requires improvement' or 'inadequate' graded setting.
I was also asked to look for evidence of how Ofsted inspectors view 'rolling snack' - where settings set up food and drink and allow children to access it when they are hungry (as opposed to being called together to eat) and with a level of independence - for example, choosing their own food from a regularly replenished selection. I note that this is less commonly available in childminding settings which promote interactions at meal times - and because the ages of children and the fact that the childminder works on their own generally make it unsafe practice when risk assessing, for example, choking hazards and supervision.
I found 1 reference to rolling snack in recent inspection report, from a nursery setting and it is factual, without giving any opinion on the practice either positive or negative -
The setting has implemented rolling snack and children choose when to eat their snack.
Other snack considerations that I did not find mentioned in any of the recent Ofsted reports I read - but I know they come up in inspections because of provider feedback - include -
Staff missed an opportunity to use mathematical vocabulary during snack time - for example, when cutting up apples, the staff member did not use words such as 'half' or 'quarter'.
Group settings do not always meet the requirement for all staff to have food hygiene training.
Some inspectors feel that planning a reading session before snack (or another meal) time means children are being asked to sit for too long.
When children are asked to wait for too long before they can eat their snack, they often become frustrated.
I hope my research helps you to make the most of your snack provision in your early years setting.
Chat soon, Sarah.
Thank you to Watchsted for making reports easy to search.
Photo from Google images.