Parents of baby Oliver Steeper, who died after choking on his food at nursery, welcome new safer eating measures for nurseries after three-year campaign

Nine-month-old Oliver, known as Oli, died in September 2021 after choking on a meal of chopped pasta Bolognaise which he was fed by staff at Jelly Beans Nursery in Ashford, Kent. Oli was eating only pureed and appropriate finger food at home.

Since Oli’s death, his parents Lewis and Zoe have been campaigning for better safety measures around weaning babies onto solid food and emergency first aid provision for early years childcare providers. Now the Department for Education has announced it is to implement a series of new safeguarding measures following the family’s nearly three-year campaign.

The measures, part of the Early Years Framework and which will come into effect in September 2025, include a new section on safer eating which states that early years childcare providers must:

• Talk to parents about the stage of weaning their child is at without making assumptions about age
• Obtain information about special dietary requirements, preferences, food allergies and intolerances and have ongoing discussions with parents/carers to develop allergy action plans
• Prepare food in a way to prevent choking
• Ensure children are always within sight and hearing of a member of staff whilst eating
• Make sure there is always a member of staff in the room with a valid paediatric first aid certificate while children are eating (not just on the premises)
• Ensure all staff are aware of the symptoms and treatments for allergies and anaphylaxis
• Keep a record of all choking incidents

Oli’s father, Lewis Steeper said:  

“After Oliver tragically passed away in September 2021 from choking on penne pasta at the age of 9 months, we are embracing these changes. These adjustments, effective from September 2025, aim to enhance the safety of our young children in early years settings. The investigations conducted after Oliver's death revealed certain issues that needed to be addressed. This update from the Department of Education will rectify those issues and improve the safety of childcare settings for everyone.”

The Steeper family’s solicitor, Leigh Day partner Jill Paterson said:  

“Oli’s parents have campaigned since his death to do what they can to ensure that no other families have to go through the tragedy that they have. These new measures are a very welcome development towards safer childcare provision and a tribute to the tireless work of Oli’s brave parents.”