Food, Drink & Winning Policy

Links:

What this policy contains 

• 1. Food routines
• 2. Weaning
• 3. Nutrition and meal times

Food Routines

When your Baby/child starts nursery, food routines will be discussed between parents/carers and practitioners on their settling in day, this will be recorded on each child’s individual care plan/profiles. This will aid Practitioners to identify each child’s stage in the weaning process, and any special dietary requirement. Allergies and health concerns will also be discussed at this time, including sleep routines. 

Parents and carers of children who are older that are starting in toddle or preschool, will discuss their child’s dietary requirements with key persons, and will be recorded on their individual care plans. 

Parents should aim to bring their child to nursery on time, if they need to be provided with a nursery breakfast or meal. If parents are late, they should contact the nursery in advance.

Outline of Meal Routines

• • 7:30-8:30am Breakfast (all classrooms)
• • 9:30 Snack time will start in preschool, 
• • 10:00 Snack time for babies and toddlers, (milk for babies feeding time)
• • 11:30 Lunch (all classrooms)
• • 2:00 Snack time (all classrooms, milk for babies feeding times)
• • 3:30- Tea time.
• • 5:30-6:00 (Milk for babies)  

We prioritise milk and water feeds based on each child’s individual needs, so children will have access to milk and water as required throughout the day. (See bottle feeding and sterilisation policy)

Weaning

Nursery understands and respects that all babies and children develop differently and at different paces, and it can be a worrying and confusing time for parents/carers during this time. We aim to make this transition as smooth as possible by ensuring our key persons work closely with you to discuss dietary requirements your child may have and make appropriate provisions to accommodate any additional needs parents may have.

The process of weaning babies can start around 6 months and can take several months. We use the guidelines from the NHS which contains valuable information on weaning children and would recommend that all parents/carers visit the link above, and or discuss with their health visitor. The nature of many food intolerances often remain unclear, nevertheless we don’t see fit that we delay the introduction of new foods most commonly associated with atopic reactions. The usual list of allergic foods is: Gluten containing cereals (wheat, barley, rye, and oats). Cow’s milk, eggs, fish, cheese. The nursery does not serve meals containing nuts, pork, or beef.  

Practitioners will work with parents as well as use daily planning and observations to ensure each individual child is accustomed to the textures of food, and that children are gradually taught how to chew and begin to eat independently at a calm, steady pace with a supportive person there to help them.(see staff supervision and observation policy)

We visibly display each child’s dietary needs lists in each room on a daily basis and continue to regularly communicate with parents regarding their children progress. (See working in partnership policy)

The nursery operates a four weekly menu which are planned in advance and reflect our cultural diversity, for non vegetarian, vegetarian and vegan children. These are available for all parents to see and are regularly reviewed, as well as seasonally changed. 

To encourage healthy eating, food tasting and cooking activities are incorporated in the learning and development and help children to become familiar with a great range of tastes and textures, progressing towards solid food, and to make healthy choices. We would like parents and carers to support us to ensure that children are encouraged to try a variety of common foods. We acknowledge that young children may not be keen on trying new foods, or foods they are not used to. To help children become independent learners and ensure they make good food choices we ask parents to cooperate with us. Below are some strategies to support a partnership approach regarding eating:

• • The nursery as much as possible will cook foods that meet the dietary requirements of the children in the setting. (see food and drink policy)
• • The nursery has a duty to encourage children to get in the habit of trying a variety of common foods that promote a healthier lifestyle.
• • We provide nutritious foods at all times, we avoid nuts, large quantities of fat, sugar salt and artificial additives preservatives or colourings. In some food nuts traces maybe labelled on the packaging these cannot be ruled out UNLESS a child is at risk of anaphylaxis. (see medication policy)
• • In case of an accident to a child with allergies, the parent will be immediately formed and if authorised Piriton/Epi Pen will be administered to the child by a trained Practitioner and per instruction, an ambulance will be called immediately to take the child to the hospital.(see Allergy and allergic reaction policy)
• • Whilst it may be difficult to see a child refuse food we recommend that it is important for parent/carers and practitioners to persevere and encourage a child to try new tastes and textures, offering an immediate alternative will only teach them that adults will give in to any demands. We expect parents to support us with this at home.
• • It is good practice to cook some of the meals we provide at home. This will increase the chances of a child getting used to foods we provide at nursery.
• • If parents/carers have any concerns about their child’s meals, please ask for a sample to be left for you at home time. This will give you an idea of the portion sizes we offer and ingredients and textures of the foods we serve.
• • Parent and carers are required to inform the nursery if there are any changes regarding their health or dietary requirement so that the child’s care plan can be updated. When children are ready to transition toddle room or preschool, their key person’s will speak to parents and together will write a transition report to pass on updated information about their child profile, diet and requirements. (see transition report)  
• • Drinks other than Breast milk, formula or water are discouraged.
• • Meals and snack times are organised so that they are social occasions in which children and staff participate in small groups. During these times children are encouraged to converse, and role play skills and key words such as ‘Please and Thank you’. (see positive behaviour and promoting British values policy)
• • Parent/carers will be informed after lunch and the end of the day their child’s daily nutritional diet including quantities of   both solid foods and bottles these will be written  on baby days daily diaries and through verbal communication at the end of the day. (see baby days policy)
• • All staff will be trained on basic food hygiene, standards and procedures including hand washing and care of teeth. (see food handling policy)

This policy also includes information that links to:

• • Food and drink policy
• • Bottle feeding and sterilisation
• • Allergy and allergic reaction policy
• • Medication, illness and infection control policy
• • Accident, incident and first aid policy
• • Food handling
• • Use of dummies bottles and cups 
• • Baby days policy
• • Transition policy
• • Staff supervision and observation policy
• • Training policy
• • Achieving positive behaviour and promoting British values

Working in partnership