Why celebrating this year’s food festival is a must!
The National Children’s Food Festival is an annual event which happens in Autumn every year. For the past few years, hundreds of early years settings and childminders have been signing up for the children and the setting to participate in the weeks events. Each year the National Children’s Food Festival offers a variety of food-related activities, various events, and competitions. This is an amazing week and has so many benefits for the children and the setting. The wealth of learning gained about where and how food is grown is incredible. It is a festival that any setting should not be missing out on.
What development is promoted during the National Children’s Food Festival?
The National Children’s Food Festival teaches children about many different things including promoting development in all seven areas of the EYFS. Some of the activities for the week may include
- Cooking and Baking – This with the correct adult input can teach children about how food is made (UW), where it comes from (UW), motor skills (PD), using tools (PD), discussions about food preferences (PSED + CL) quantities, numbers and measure (M)
- All around the world – Different foods from different cultures for food tasting, cooking themes, Stories such as Handa’s Surprise.These are brilliant ways to support promoting British Values
- Outings – Trips to local markets, supermarkets, fruit and vegetable shops, animal farms, pick your farms. Great ways to build links in the community and give children the experiences that they may not gain outside of the setting
- Art Activities – Food printing, painting with blended foods, painting with herb brushes, Mr potato heads, my favourite meal plates, etc
- Messy play – Any food messy play and the messier, the better. Great for the younger children, sensory development and all areas of the EYFS
- Parent advice sessions – Hold a coffee morning and get the nursery chef to share recipe ideas, healthy eating, or maybe focus the session on supporting fussy eaters.
- Bake-offs – Get the parents involved too! Great fun to see what everybody can create and to build parent partnerships too. You could even sell the things that are made and donate the money to your local charities.
- The national challenge – Every year a national challenge is set. Last year it was the Bread Challenge, I wonder what it will be this year…?
- Planting and Growing – A great time to add to or improve your outdoor space. Whether it be creating a herb garden and the start of an outdoors sensory area, potatoes in tyres filled with mud or simple cress or grass heads indoors. The learning from this is invaluable, and there is no better way to teach children exactly where their food comes from.
Why should your setting take part?
Not only will children be discovering all about food and the world they live in through some of the fabulous and fun activities but by also joining in it will;
- Improve your setting
- Meet some Ofsted requirements such as British Values, Outdoor Spaces, Healthy Eating
- Build parent partnerships
- Take part in a nationally recognised festival
- If you send photos or updates, you will get some brilliant advertising through your setting being featured through the site which is accessed by thousands daily
- Attract new children and parents to the setting
- Create a buzz around food which is so important
- Receive free resources, templates and activity ideas and timetables
- Help children to meet new next steps
- Create wonderful displays using the work created during the week
We hope your childcare setting joins in this year’s National Children’s Food Festival 2016 that will be held in September. More information about this event will be shared shortly so keep an eye out.