Guidance

National Minimum Standards for Regulated Childcare for children up to the age of 12 years: statutory guidance - Audience and overview

Standard of care child minding and day care providers must meet to look after children under 12.

First published: 18 June 2026

Last updated: 18 June 2026

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Standard 12: Food and drink

Child’s voice: I get healthy food and drinks that are right for me, and everyone checks with my family about what I need.

Well-being outcome: Children are provided with regular drinks, healthy and nutritious food in adequate quantities for their dietary needs.

The registered person is responsible for ensuring that:

12.1 Information is obtained from parents and recorded about individual children’s dietary requirements, including cultural and religious requirements and therapeutic diets for officially diagnosed food allergies and these are complied with.

12.2 If children receive meals and/or snacks, they are safely prepared, nutritionally balanced, of good quality and appropriate in quantity following recommendations in Welsh Government's Food and Nutrition guidance for childcare settings. The food and drink offered is varied and nutritious and meets the religious, cultural, and dietary requirements of each of the children.

12.3 Fresh drinking water is freely available to children at all times.

12.4 All food is stored safely. If parents provide food, they are informed of what can be stored safely.

12.5 Food Standards Agency and Environmental Health requirements are complied with.

12.6 In settings where there are set meal and refreshment times, they are arranged to provide sociable opportunities for children, using tables, seating and appropriate crockery and cutlery.

12.7 If care is provided for babies and children under the age of 2:

feeding and nappy changing takes place in accordance with the child’s individual needs and not as part of a nursery routine.
facilities are available to support mothers who wish to continue to breastfeed, e.g., for safe storage of expressed milk or for visiting in order to breastfeed their baby during the time in which the child is cared for. In exceptional circumstances, where facilities are not permanently available, temporary arrangements are made as required.
babies are held when being bottle fed, preferably by the same carer or key worker on each occasion.
an area is provided with access to drinking water and facilities for the hygienic preparation of babies’ feeds.
suitable sterilisation equipment is used for babies’ feeding equipment and dummies.
records are kept of babies’ food intake and are shared with their parent(s).

To assist providers, the principal regulatory requirements underpinning this standard are outlined below, followed by relevant guidance. Providers should note that neither list is exhaustive, and that providers must have regard to all standards relevant to their service and the circumstances concerned.