FOOD AND DRINK

South Hill Park Pre-school promotes and encourages healthy eating and healthy snacks, as well as good oral health.  We give consideration to the NHS Change4Life ‘food smart’ recommendations to cut back on sugar, salt and saturated fats. 

Snack and lunch times are an important part of our session. In order for the children to be safe during these times it is essential we know about your child’s dietary needs.  

Dietary needs 

• During the admission process, parents are asked to provide us with information about any food allergies or special dietary requirements their child may have.  This information is shared with the staff and is displayed in the kitchen and office for all staff and volunteers to see. 

• Care is taken to ensure that children with food allergies or a special dietary requirement do not have contact with any food products that they are allergic to or that their parents request they do not have.

• If a child has a severe food allergy or special dietary requirement, there may be times when we ask their parents to supply their snack or milk.  

• No child will be made to feel singled out because of their dietary needs. 

• Parents who require a list of allergens and ingredients of foods used at Pre-school should ask the Manager or Deputy Manager. 

Snack time

The children have a mid-morning / afternoon healthy snack of fruit, dairy and carbohydrates.  The Pre-school implements systems to ensure that children only receive food and drink that is consistent with their dietary needs and preferences, as well as their parents’ wishes.  

Individual dietary needs are checked to ensure suitability of snack items provided. The staff member organising each snack session reads and signs the snack preparation sheet in the kitchen before snack time commences. 

In line with the Food Information Regulations 2014, you can ask us for verbal information about potential allergens in our snack food.  Please ask the Pre-school Manager or Deputy Manager  and they will be able to show you the food packaging with the relevant information.

We aim to vary the food offered and endeavour to reflect cultural diversity. 

Drinks 

• Parents are asked to provide their child with a drink bottle with fresh water in it. The children are able to access their bottle at all times and staff will refill them when necessary. 

• If a child comes in without a water bottle, they will be offered fresh drinking water in a cup.

• Children are offered either milk or water to drink at snack time. 

• We do not supply juice or squash during the children’s sessions* and we ask parents not to put these in their child’s bottle.  *With the exception of the childrens’ parties.  

Lunch time 

• Children are required to bring in a packed lunch if they are staying for lunch club.  

• If a child is attending a morning session before lunch club we ask the parents to provide an ice pack in their child’s lunch box, to keep their food fresh.

• We encourage healthy eating at Pre-school and parents are reminded of this when registering their child for lunch club.   

• We discourage packed lunch contents that consist largely of processed foods and / or sweet products. 

• We ask that parents do not send their children in with confectionery items as part of their lunch.  

• Parents are asked to provide cold food for their child’s lunch or to use a thermos pot if they are sending in warm food.  Staff are not able to reheat or heat foods for the children’s lunch.  

• Snack and mealtimes are organised as social occasions with staff sitting with children to eat their lunch. 

• Pre-school  staff  will  let  parents know if  their  children’s eating habits change at Pre-school or if there are any concerns regarding their lunch.  This will usually be a note in their lunch box unless a phone call is considered to be more appropriate.

• We ask parents not to send in foods containing nuts. Parents may also be asked not to provide other items of food due to the allergens that they contain. These items can change according to the needs of the children at the time.  Parents are informed of these foods when necessary. 

• It is our intention that no nuts or nut products are used within the setting.  Parents are made aware and are asked not to put nuts or nuts products in their child’s packed lunch.

• Children are not forced to eat or drink anything that they do not want to. Nor are they forced to eat all of their packed lunch if they cannot manage it.  

• Children are encouraged to be independent and to open their own packaging and eat by themselves. However, staff are on hand to help children who need it and support them in eating their lunch. 

• Staff do not withhold items of food or keep a child at the table once others have left because they have not finished their lunch or because they will not try certain food items. 

• If a child does not eat any of their lunch during lunch club and they are staying for the afternoon session, staff will offer them their lunch again and snack during the session. 

Celebrations

• Parents will be informed of any celebration at Preschool where ‘exception’ food and drink will be given as a treat. 

• If there are any parties, the food provided will reflect any dietary considerations the children may have.

• We request that no cakes, sweets or foods are brought in for birthdays. Instead we have a wooden birthday cake and candles that we use at group time to sing happy birthday to them with their friends.

Cooking 

We carry out cooking with the children, where they are involved in the weighing, mixing  and preparation of the ingredients.

• Children wash their hands before and after cooking

• Children wear aprons to protect their clothing.

• We aim to be inclusive in our cooking choices by including foods across all cultures

• We take into consideration the allergies and dietary requirements of the children when planning our cooking activities.#

Staff training

• Staff are required to complete a Food Safety and Hygiene online course as part of their induction and to renew this training every 3 years whilst employed by the Pre-school. 

• In some circumstances staff may be required to undertake specific training with regards to an individual child’s food allergy.  This happens on a needs basis. 

Last reviewed: August 2024