Food and Drink Policy
We aim to provide a healthy nutritionally balanced diet for the children attending. We hope that all parents can be confident that we are offering your child a wide variety of high-quality food. Full menus and dish specifications are available on request. (Menus are subject to change)
We are keen to introduce children to different religious and cultural festivals through different types of food and drink. No child will be forced to eat or drink anything against their will and food will not be used as a reward or punishment.
We prepare all our meals on the premises daily. We do not use any salt in our cooking and try to avoid the use of sugar where possible. We aim to use fresh, local, and ethical produce wherever possible.
- Dolphin friendly tuna
- Free range eggs
- Locally sourced seasonal fruit and vegetable- where possible
- Free range meat
- Sustainable fish fillets
Each parent/carer is required as part of the admissions policy to inform the Nursery of any dietary requirements or allergies their child may have.
We endeavour to cater for all special requirements. These must be discussed with the manager/key person and the cook. Occasionally will require parents to provide specialist ingredients.
Staff will be made aware of any allergies etc and will ensure that the food and drink offered to the child takes this information in to account.All dietary needs and preferences are displayed in the classrooms, staff room/ office and kitchen.
We cater for children whilst weaning, starting with pureed fruit and vegetables until they progress on to other foods. If parents would like to introduce their children to packet or jar foods, we ask that they bring it in clearly labelled with the child’s name so that they are only used for that specific child.
If a parent would prefer to provide their child with a packed lunch, we request that fizzy drinks, chocolate bars, chocolate yoghurt, sweets, and crisps etc, are not included.Suggested alternatives would be salad sticks (cucumber, carrot, pepper etc) sandwiches with a protein filling (tuna, ham, cheese) a piece of fruit, a yoghurt, a snack bar.Food should be stored in a cool bag with the required cool blocks or stored in the fridge. Staff should be informed on arrival of where it needs to be stored.We display an “eat well” poster on the parent notice board. This poster shows percentages for a healthy balanced diet.
Snack and mealtimes are considered a “social time” for staff and children to sit and talk together. Little Steps Nursery encourages good eating habits and promotes the use of good manners.
Drink We provide milk and water for all the children throughout the session. Parents/carers can provide their children with water or juice in a named and labelled water bottle should they prefer. Children under the age of one will be offered cooled boiled water. Milk is available at snack times.
Milk Bottles brought into nursery will need to have the child’s name clearly labelled on the bottle and any container with milk powder in. Bottles will then be stored in the milk fridge and used within 24 hours. Once a bottle has been used any leftover milk will be discarded and the bottle rinsed. Children between the ages of 1 and two (unless otherwise advised by the parents) will be offered full fat cow’s milk at breakfast and snacks and for bottle feeds during the day.As per government guidelines children 2 and over will be offered semi skimmed milk.