Food and Drink (ALL POLICIES AVAILIBLE ON REQUEST AT SETTING)

At Little Acorns Childcare we believe that mealtimes should be happy, social occasions for children and staff alike. We promote shared, enjoyable positive interactions at these times.

 

We are committed to offering children healthy, nutritious and balanced meals and snacks, which meet individual needs and requirements.

 

We ensure that:

  • A balanced and healthy breakfast, midday meal, tea and two daily snacks are provided for children attending a full day at the nursery

  • We provide nutritious food at all snack and mealtimes we provide for where we include foods to cover a variety of the food groups.

  • Only milk and water are provided as drinks to promote oral health. Fresh drinking water is always available and accessible. It is frequently offered to  babies  and toddlers and intake is monitored. In hot weather staff will encourage children to drink more water to keep them hydrated

  • Individual dietary requirements are respected. We gather information from parents regarding their children’s dietary needs, including any special dietary requirements, preferences and food allergies that a child has and any special health requirements, before a child joins the nursery. Where appropriate, we will carry out a risk assessment in the case of allergies and work alongside parents to put into place an individual dietary plan for their child

  • We give careful consideration to seating to avoid cross contamination of food from child to child. Where appropriate, an adult will sit with children during meals to ensure safety and minimise risks. Where appropriate, discussions will also take place with children about allergies and potential risks to make them aware of the dangers of sharing certain foods

  • Staff show sensitivity in providing for children’s diets and allergies. They do not use a child’s diet or allergy as a label for the child, or make a child feel singled out because of their diet or allergy

  • Staff set a good example and can eat with the children and show good table manners. Meal and snack times are organised so that they are social occasions in which children and staff participate in small groups. During meal and snack times children are encouraged to use their manners and conversation is encouraged

  • Staff use meal and snack times to help children to develop independence through making choices, serving food and drinks and feeding themselves

  • Staff support children to make healthy choices and understand the need for healthy eating

  • Where possible, we provide foods from the diet of each of the children’s cultural backgrounds, providing children with familiar foods and introducing them to new ones

  • We ask that hot food being brought in is stored in a food flask to maintain the foods heat and to prevent reheated food being reheated again

  • Cultural differences in eating habits are respected

  • Any child who shows signs of distress at being faced with a meal they do not like will have their food removed without any fuss.

  • Children who refuse to eat at the mealtime are offered food later in the day

  • Children are given time to eat at their own pace and not rushed

  • Quantities offered take account of the ages of the children being catered for in line with recommended portion sizes for babies and young children

  • We promote positive attitudes to healthy eating through play opportunities and discussions

  • No child is ever left alone when eating or drinking to minimise the risk of choking

  • We will sometimes celebrate special occasions such as birthdays. Where we have frequent birthdays and celebrations, we consider other alternatives such as celebrating through smiles and praise, stickers and badges, choosing a favourite story, becoming a special helper, playing a party game, dancing and/or singing their favourite song.

  • All staff who prepare and handle food are competent to do so and receive training in food hygiene which is updated every three years

  • In the very unlikely event of any food poisoning affecting two or more children on the premises, whether or not this may arise from food offered at the nursery, we will inform Ofsted as soon as reasonably practical and in all cases within 14 days. We will also inform the relevant health agencies and follow any advice given. 

 

Packed lunches

We ask parents to supply a packed lunches.  We provide parents with guidelines for nutritious content and signpost to the NHS packed lunch guidance (https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/recipes/healthier-lunchboxes/).

 

We request parents use ice packs. 

 

 

 

Children’s lunch boxes are checked prior to giving the contents to the children to ensure any risks from potential allergens or choking hazards are managed.

 

This policy was adopted on

Signed on behalf of the nursery

Date for review

11.5.26

J Osbourne

11.5.27