Ellergreen Nursery School and Childcare Centre Food and Drink Policy
Food and Drink Policy
‘Where children are provided with meals, snacks and drinks, they must be healthy,
balanced and nutritious. Before a child is admitted to the setting the provider must
also obtain information about any special dietary requirements, preferences and food
allergies that the child has, and any special health requirements. Fresh drinking
water must be available and accessible at all times. Providers must record and act on
information from parents and carers about a child's dietary needs’. (Statutory
Framework for the EYFS)
Aim of policy
Promote the good health of children through providing a healthy, balanced and nutritious
meals, snacks and drinks in an environment that promotes healthy choices.
Procedure

The Nursery School and Childcare Centre is committed to being a Health Promoting
Early Years setting.

All food hygiene matters will be included in staff induction and training for all staff.

We will advise Ofsted within 14 days of any food poisoning affecting two or more
children looked after on the premises.

When parents/ carers register with the Nursery School and Childcare Centre,
information will be taken which will include their specific dietary needs, their likes
and dislikes, any allergies which may be triggered by certain foods/drinks. Cultural
and religious diets will be respected and valued.

Staff will be given information about the specific dietary needs of the children in
the setting, in the Childcare Centre allergies sheets are displayed around the
setting. Whilst this information is confidential to the school nursery and childcare
centre it is essential that everyone involved in the handling, preparation and serving
of food ensures that each child’s specific requirements are met.
To be reviewed 10/2016
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Ellergreen Nursery School and Childcare Centre Food and Drink Policy

Water is to be accessible throughout the day in the setting (both indoors and
outdoors). Older children will be able to access the water independently. Younger
children will be supported in accessing water by the staff, being offered drinks on a
regular basis. We will ensure that children are not dehydrated after exercise and
sleep and in hot weather, in addition to the regular drinks in the day. Care will be
taken to ensure all children have regular drinks of water or milk at all times.

We will provide a healthy nutritious diet for the children attending the setting.
The meals will be developed with the support of Cook and Childcare Manager, to
ensure that we are promoting healthy eating in line with current guidance. We will
ensure that religious/dietary needs are sourced and prepared appropriately. We
will encourage the children to enjoy the variety of diets within our communities.

Children will be encouraged, where appropriate, to help prepare foods for meal
times. If possible, opportunity will be given to grow vegetables in the outdoor areas
and give the children the opportunity to sample the products of their work.

We will meet the nutritional needs of individual children at all times.

Information on what the children have eaten will be shared with parents / carers
through daily sheets and the daily menu board in the childcare setting and on the
parent notice boards outside the two Nursery School classes.

The individual dietary needs of children will be met, with discussion with parents/
carers prompting when changes to their child’s dietary needs will be implemented.
There will be a designated area within the childcare setting Kitchen to prepare
formula milk bottles.
We will follow the latest guidance on the preparation of
formula milk and this will be discussed with parents when they place their child in
the nursery.

The current Department of Health guidance regarding weaning, is for babies to be
weaned on to solid foods at the age of 6 months.

We will promote the Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative within the childcare setting.
Mothers are welcome to breast feed within all areas of the school nursery and
childcare centre. If they wish to feed in a quiet area, this will be arranged for
them. Expressed breast milk will be stored in the childcare setting for use that
day, and stored in accordance with Unicef guidelines
To be reviewed 10/2016
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Ellergreen Nursery School and Childcare Centre Food and Drink Policy


“Breast milk can be stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of 2 – 4 deg. C for
between 3 and 5 days. If you do not have a refrigerator thermometer, it is
probably safest to freeze any breast milk that you do not intend to use within 24
hours. Breast milk can be stored for one week in the ice compartment of the
refrigerator or up to three months in the freezer.
Breast milk should not be defrosted in a microwave because this may cause the milk
to become an uneven temperature which may burn the baby’s mouth”.

All babies are to be held whilst being bottle fed, on no account is a child to be given
a bottle and propped up to be fed.

Staff will wash hands before preparing any snacks and meals, using the antibacterial hand wash provided. Only paper towels or hand-driers will be used in an
attempt to minimise cross-infections. Staff will demonstrate good practice and be
positive role models for the children and trainees.

If wearing false nails staff should wear gloves when preparing food.

Kitchen staff will use the hats/hairnets, aprons and gloves in line with good
environmental health practices.

To avoid cross-contamination Kitchen staff will not wear their uniforms outside and
will get changed into them on the premises.

All children will wash their hands before and after every meal/snack, supported by
staff where appropriate. We support children’s healthy teeth by providing water
and nutritious snacks and meals throughout their day and taking part in the tooth
brushing scheme working in partnership with health professionals in the Childcare
Centre.

We will promote social eating when having meals and snacks with all the children.
Staff and children will sit together in small groups at tables within the rooms. It
may be appropriate for a number of rooms to come together for mealtimes giving
older children the opportunity to be positive role models for the younger children.
To be reviewed 10/2016
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Ellergreen Nursery School and Childcare Centre Food and Drink Policy

When having snack or meals at all times plates will be provided. To be used with the
appropriate utensils. We will acknowledge the cultural differences in eating within
our local community.

All food will be stored in accordance with environmental health regulations, where
required. The Childcare Centre cook will use the safer food better business for
caterers.

Children will be involved in preparing for meal times, with staff capitalising on
opportunities to promote skills such as matching, sorting, counting, etc. Children
will be given choices when possible. Water will always be provided at meal times.

If a child does not eat their meal, they will be offered an alternative i.e. a sandwich.

Children are encouraged to eat their meal and parents / carers are informed of how
much the children have eaten when collecting their children. This information will be
recorded and shared with the parents. When issues have been identified joint
discussions between staff and parents / carers will identify strategies to encourage
children to eat healthily.

A menu board displaying the meals and snacks is provided for the week and will be
displayed in the entrance to the childcare setting accessible to all parents / carers.

We will celebrate special occasions and birthdays and food may be part of these
celebrations.

Parents / carers should discuss their child’s individual needs with the staff.

Bibs are to be worn by Caterpillar room. Fabric bibs will be laundered promptly
after meal/snack time.

Only staff who have received Basic Food Hygiene training will be able to prepare
meals and snacks.

Good hygiene will be practiced in all areas of the Nursery School and Childcare
Centre. The kitchen and food preparation area will meet the requirements of the
Environmental Health Inspectorate, who may visit at any time to ensure compliance
with their regulations.
To be reviewed 10/2016
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Ellergreen Nursery School and Childcare Centre Food and Drink Policy

All food will be stored in accordance with environmental health regulations, where
required. The Childcare Cook will use the Safer Food Better Business for Caterers
booklet, keeping records daily and available for inspection by the appropriate
agency. The cook will be delegated to take responsibility for this area of care,
sharing any requests for resources and storage materials immediately with the
Childcare Manager.
To be reviewed 10/2016
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