Nursery World - Nursery Food: Childminding

Childminders are in a unique position when it comes to providing food across the day and age ranges. Gabriella Jozwiak meets some of them to discover how they plan, shop and cook

While trained catering staff usually support nursery-based practitioners at meal times, childminders often have the sole responsibility of providing three healthy meals a day to a range of different-aged children with varying taste buds. And getting the right nutritional balance, as well as preparing food safely, is vital for growing children.

Childminders are not required to complete formal food and hygiene training in order to register with Ofsted. But the education watchdog’s early years and childcare registration handbook states that childminders must ensure they prove they have suitable facilities for food preparation, and that any food and drink is ‘properly prepared, wholesome and nutritious’. They must also comply with food hygiene legislation. Upon registration, a childminding business is automatically listed as a food business with its local authority, which may carry out a food safety inspection.

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