Setting the Table Guidance: Equality Impact Assessment

Background

Setting the Table

Setting the Table - the nutritional and food standards for early years childcare providers in Scotland, is a national guidance publication for food provision in early years childcare provision. The guidance provides advice for all Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) providers and practitioners, including childminders, on how best to provide all eligible children aged 0–5 in ELC settings in Scotland with meals, snacks and drinks that meet their nutritional requirements and that are conducive to good health.

Expansion of Funded ELC to 1,140 hours

The Scottish Government’s expansion to 1,140 funded hours of ELC introduced a universal entitlement to a free meal for all children as part of their ELC day. This entitlement is not based on any eligibility criteria beyond being eligible for funded ELC (3 and 4 year olds and eligible 2 year olds). Provision of a free meal is a requirement under Quality Criteria 10 of the National Standard for funded ELC (breakfast, lunch or dinner), and settings must have a clear and comprehensive policy for the provision of healthy meals and snacks for children, consistent with Setting the Table, and ensuring that individual cultural and dietary needs are met.

As a result of the expansion to 1,140 hours of funded ELC the need for a further update was identified. Following a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and further changes in scientific evidence including recommendations from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) review on "Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years”, a Scottish Government led multi-partner working group was established to update the guidance document. The updated guidance has also taken account of Health and Social Care Standards: my support, my life which set out what people should expect when using health, social care or social work services in Scotland. These human rights-based standards should be considered by care providers when planning children’s care, including specific care standards that relate to eating and drinking.