Inspectors visited 110 settings , comprising 64 childminders and 46 daycare providers, in February to conduct 'Food for Thought - A survey of healthy eating in registered daycare'.
They found that 74 per cent of childminders and 65 per cent of daycare providers were 'good' or 'outstanding' at providing healthy food for the children they looked after. No childminders, and only 4 per cent of daycare providers, were judged 'inadequate'.
The best providers collected information about children's likes and dislikes and worked with parents to get children to try new foods. They were also aware of what constitutes a balanced diet and placed a strong emphasis on home-cooked nutritious food.
Only a 'small minority' offered sweets, crisps and biscuits. However, the report said that not all providers took enough care in recording children's allergies and food preferences and communicating these to staff.
Dorian Bradley, Ofsted's director of early years, said, 'So much has been said over the last year about school meals, but few people have talked about the food that younger children are given to eat. I'm pleased to say the picture looks rosy. Childcarers, in the main, have embraced the concept of healthy eating and the wider benefits gained from it.'
Chief executive of the National Childminding Association, Liz Bayram, said, 'This year's National Childminding Week will focus on healthy eating. It's wonderful news that childminders have been judged so highly and that none were deemed inadequate. It reinforces what NCMA already knows anecdotally.'
Ofsted has also published top tips for childcarers on healthy eating. They include raising awareness of children's dietary require- ments and working with parents to promote a balanced diet.
* Read more about the survey in next week's Nursery World.