Nutrition and Mealtimes Policy

At Winston’s Place Day Nursery, we believe that mealtimes should be happy, social occasions for children and staff alike. We promote shared, enjoyable positive interactions at these times, in line with the EYFS requirement to support children’s health, wellbeing and social development.

We are committed to offering children healthy, nutritious and balanced meals and snacks, which meet individual needs and requirements and support children’s growth, development and readiness to learn.

We ensure that:
• A breakfast, midday meal, and a daily snack are provided for children attending a full day at the nursery
• Menus are planned in advance and follow guidance produced by the Department for Education and Public Health England. These are rotated regularly, reflect cultural diversity and variation and are displayed for children and parents to view
• All allergens are displayed alongside the menus to show the contents of each meal
• We provide nutritious food at all snack and mealtimes, avoiding large quantities of fat, sugar, salt and artificial additives, preservatives and colourings
• Menus include at least one serving of fresh fruit and vegetables per day, with a variety offered across the week
• Milk and water are provided as drinks to promote oral health. Fresh drinking water is always available and accessible. It is frequently offered to children and babies and intake is monitored. In hot weather staff will encourage children to drink more water to keep them hydrated

Dietary needs, allergies and inclusion
• Individual dietary requirements are respected at all times. 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 starts or 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
• Where a child has an allergy or medical dietary need, an individual dietary plan will be completed and reviewed regularly in partnership with parents
• Seating arrangements are carefully considered to minimise the risk of cross contamination, and where appropriate an adult sits with children during meals to ensure safety
• Age-appropriate discussions take place with children about allergies and the importance of not sharing food, supporting both safety and inclusion
• 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 her/his diet or allergy
• 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
• Cultural differences in eating habits are respected

Mealtime practice and independence
• Staff use meal and snack times to help children develop independence by making choices, serving food and drinks, and feeding themselves where developmentally appropriate
• Staff support children to make healthy choices and help them understand the importance of a balanced diet
• Any child who shows signs of distress at being faced with a meal they do not like will have their food removed without pressure or fuss. If a child does not finish his/her first course, he/she will still be given a helping of dessert
• Children not on special diets are gently encouraged, but never forced, to eat a small piece of everything
• Children are given sufficient time to eat at their own pace and not rushed
• Portion sizes take account of children’s age and developmental stages, following recommended guidance for babies and young children
• Positive attitudes to healthy eating are promoted through play, stories, activities and discussions

Safety, hygiene and supervision
• No child is ever left alone when eating or drinking, to minimise the risk of choking, in line with EYFS safeguarding requirements
• Staff remain vigilant at all times during meals and snacks, particularly with younger children and those at higher risk
• All staff involved in food preparation or handling are trained in food hygiene, with training updated at least every three years
• Daily meal records are shared with parents, particularly for babies and younger children, to ensure continuity between home and nursery.

Celebrations and Special Occasions
• We will sometimes celebrate special occasions such as birthdays with the occasional treat of foods such as cake, sweets or biscuits. These will be given at mealtimes to prevent tooth decay and not spoil the child’s appetite.
• Where celebrations are frequent, alternative non-food celebrations are encouraged, such as praise, stickers, choosing a favourite story, being a helper, games, singing or dancing
• Parents may bring in cakes for special occasions. All food brought in must meet health and safety requirements and comply with FIR 2014 allergen labelling, as detailed in our Allergens Policy and Procedure

Packed lunches

We allow children to bring packed lunches into the setting.
• Parents are provided with guidance on nutritious packed lunches and are signposted to NHS healthier lunchbox guidance (https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/recipes/healthier-lunchboxes/).
• Packed lunches are stored appropriately in the fridge
• Lunch boxes are checked before meals to manage risks relating to allergens, choking hazards or unsuitable foods, in line with safeguarding and food safety guidance

Illness and Food Safety
• In the unlikely event of suspected food poisoning affecting two or more children, whether or not the food originated from the nursery, Ofsted will be informed as soon as reasonably practicable and always within 14 days, in line with EYFS requirements
• Relevant health agencies will also be notified, and all guidance provided will be followed


This policy supports EYFS welfare requirements, Ofsted inspection expectations, food safety legislation and public health guidance.