As an Early Years setting we must follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework; it sets the standards that early years’ providers must meet to ensure that children learn, develop well and are kept healthy and safe. The requirements state that:
‘Children are provided with meals, snacks and drinks, these must be healthy, balanced and nutritious’
Providing healthy, balanced and nutritious food ensures that all children are getting the right amount of nutrients and energy they need while they are growing; this can help prevent children from becoming overweight or obese.
As a setting we have to plan and provide food that is in the 4 main food groups, information regarding these food groups are displayed by the main entrance door of the nursery for you to read.
We will ensure:
A balanced and healthy breakfast and two daily snacks are provided for the children. The children can choose which breakfast they want and there will always be two foods for snacks on offer so the children can either have both items or just the one they want or prefer. The children will always be encouraged to try all foods offered by the nursery. The children can have a second portion if they wish to
Parents are encouraged to follow the nutritional guidance as well and provide their children with a healthy eating lunch. We are a nut, cake, chocolate, sweet and juice free setting. These items will be sent home with the children if sent in.
Fresh drinking water is always available and accessible to the children both inside and outside of the nursery. Children over two years old have free access to the two water stations. Milk is also offered to the children.
Individual dietary requirements are respected. We collect information from parents regarding their children’s dietary needs, including any special dietary requirements and food allergies that a child has and any special health requirements before a child starts at 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 plan for the child.
We will give careful consideration when preparing food to avoid cross contamination and also when seating the children for meal times to ensure safety and minimise risks. Where appropriate, age/stage discussions will also take place with all children about allergies and potential risks to make them aware of the dangers of sharing certain foods.
Staff use meal times and snack times to help children to develop independence through getting the children to get their lunch, taking all of the items out, opening and placing all wrappers back.
All left over food and wrappers/pots are sent home so parents know how much their child has eaten that day.
The nursery will refer to the ‘Traffic Light Food Label’ method to support the children’s nutrition levels of salt, sugar, and saturated fats (Illustration table at bottom of policy for reference)
Lunch boxes:
All lunch boxes must have an ice pack; this is an all year requirement.
Cutlery needed for the children to eat their lunch must be provided such as a spoon or fork.
Parents must adhere to this nutrition policy and support the nursery in ensuring all children are provided with a nutritional lunch.
Parents should also be aware of the traffic light food label method to help provide a nutritional lunch for their child.
Parents must cut up foods that are a choking hazard; these being grapes, blueberries, olives and orange segments.
Food Suggestions for lunch boxes:
Whole meal bread, natural unflavoured yoghurt, fruit, vegetables, pasta, cheese, rice cakes, chicken, wholegrain bagels.
Avoid: items with saturated fat, salt, sugar, sweetened yoghurts, crisps, cakes.