Official report by Patrick Holford on our nursery food

Our auditor highlighted the groups outstanding commitment to fresh, from-scratch cooking using whole-food ingredients, with minimal added sugar, salt, or ultra-processed products. Menus follow a carefully designed 16-day rotation and include wholegrains, vegetables, pulses, oily fish, fermented foods, and healthy fats to support brain development, emotional regulation, and long-term health.

A particularly notable feature is the daily use of Food Fact Cards, which engage children in learning about where food comes from and how it supports their bodies and brains. This approach to food education was described as best-in-class and well beyond sector norms.

Leadership and consistency across the catering and nursery teams were praised as exemplary, with strong alignment between central standards and local delivery. The audit recognised the long-term work of the Catering Manager in developing menus, recipes, research, and training that underpin the group’s high standards.

With an overall score of 91/100, The DEN Nursery group comfortably surpassed the threshold for full accreditation, placing it among the leading early-years providers in nutrition and brain health.

Food for the Brain concluded that The Den Nursery Group sets a benchmark for best practice in early-years nutrition and is well positioned as a sector leader in using food as a foundation for lifelong wellbeing, learning, and resilience.  Patrick Holford