Feed the children: food provision in early childcare falls short

A major report into Australia’s childcare services has recommended access to nutritionally adequate food be included in national quality standards.

Researchers from The University of Queensland, in partnership with not-for-profit social impact organisation Social Ventures Australia, examined food insecurity and food provision in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings over the past 2 years.

Professor Karen Thorpe from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute , said 1 in 10 childcare centres did not provide food.

“Food provision is not required by national law, nor monitored in the quality assessment of childcare services,” Professor Thorpe said.

“These findings reveal a significant gap in Australia’s early childhood system.

“We recommend Australian governments recognise access to adequate, nutritious and culturally appropriate food as a fundamental condition for children’s learning, development, wellbeing and participation in early childhood education and care.

“Hungry children cannot regulate their behaviour or learn.”

The report, titled Food where it matters most, is the first national mapping of food provision in long day care services for children aged birth to 6 years.

The most significant gaps were found in small rural towns where only 58 per cent of services provided food.

Tasmania had the lowest rate of food provision in Australia – 66 per cent of long day care centres provided food, compared to 87-94 per cent in other states and territories.

Social Ventures Australia Director of Early Childhood Emma Sydenham said the findings pointed to an opportunity for governments to act.

“Ensuring children can access nutritious food in early learning is a practical step governments can take now to give more children the foundations for a good life,” Ms Sydenham said.

“We are calling on the Australian Government to establish a targeted Food Provision in ECEC program, initially focused on 50 communities where children are at greatest risk of food insecurity.

“This would allow us to test what it takes to provide nutritious food well across different settings and build evidence for broader reform.”

Other report recommendations include the establishment of an ECEC Commission with a mandate “to recognise food as essential educational infrastructure and a core component of quality ECEC”.

Nutritionist and research fellow at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute, Dr Bonnie Searle , said food insecurity was a significant and growing issue for Australian children.

She said it was associated with poorer health, developmental vulnerability, reduced educational outcomes, and lifelong disadvantage.

“Between 16 and 43 per cent of Australian households with children experience food insecurity, and there are particularly high rates among low-income and single-parent families,” Dr Searle said.

“At the same time, more than 1 in 6 Australian children live in poverty.

“Early childhood education and care is a unique and particularly important setting because food is fundamental to children’s learning and development.

“This is particularly vital in the first 5 years of life, when approximately 90 per cent of brain growth occurs.

“Attendance at childcare coincides with a critical time in human brain development and hunger and poor nutrition at this time can have lasting effects.”

Dr Searle said food provision alone did not guarantee food was nutritionally adequate or sufficient and even where food was provided, significant inequities remained.

The report found barriers to adequate, high-quality food include cost, limited space and lack of staff training.

Professor Thorpe will officially launch the report at the 2^nd National Early Childhood Education Summit today (Nov 11) in Sydney.

Read the report published on the Social Ventures Australia website.