You can read the our policy below or download or download the document by clicking the link below:

Healthy Eating Policy

Statement of Intent

Golborne and Maxilla Children’s Centre regards meal times and snacks as an important part of the day.  Eating represents a social time for children and adults and helps children to learn about healthy eating,

Aim

At meal times and snack times, we aim to provide nutritious food, which meets the children’s individual dietary needs. The emphasis of Golborne & Maxilla Children’s Centre is on homemade food produced on the premises.

Allergies and Special Dietary Needs

• Before a child starts to attend Golborne and Maxilla Children’s Centre we find out from parents/carers their children’s dietary needs, including any allergies and intolerances.
• We record information about each child’s dietary needs in his/her registration record.
• We display current information about individual children’s dietary needs so that all staff are fully informed about them.
• Table lunch cards are made for each child identifying dietary requirements and the modified menu is attached to the lunch card for children with allergies.
• We require staff to show sensitivity in providing for children’s diets and allergies.  Staff do not use a child’s diet or allergy as a label for the child or make a child feel singled out because of his/her diet or allergy.
• We have rules about children sharing and swapping their food with one another in order to protect children with food allergies. No food is brought from home into the Centre.
• At Golborne & Maxilla Children’s Centre we have a no nuts policy and endeavour to ensure that there are no nuts or nut traces in any of our food.
• If parents wish for their child to celebrate their birthday at school by sharing food in a group, it is our policy that only fruit may be brought in and no other food. This ensures the health and safety of all our children, and ensures that no child with an allergy needs to be excluded from the celebration. Please talk to your child’s key person for more info about birthday celebrations.

Parents and Carers

We discuss our statement of intent and  the healthy eating policy is available for parents. Menus are available for parents on request at the Reception desk.

• We work closely with parents to ensure that our records are up to date.
• We implement systems to ensure that children receive only food and drink which is consistent with their dietary needs and parents’/carers’ wishes.
• We display the menus of meals/snacks for the information of parents each day and for children in the under 3’s, record what they have eaten/drunk each day.

Food & Drink

We provide nutritious food at all meal times and snack times, avoiding foods high in fat, sugar, salt and artificial additives, preservatives and colourings. The menus are checked by nutritionists in the Borough to ensure they provide the right balance of nutrients for children under 5, including:

• Protein for growth and repair
• Fruits and vegetables for minerals and vitamins to help fight infection
• Dairy foods containing calcium for strong bones and teeth
• Carbohydrates such as bread, rice, potatoes, pasta and cereals to provide energy to play and learn
• We include foods from the diet of each of the children’s cultural backgrounds, providing children with familiar foods and introducing them to new ones.
• Through discussion with parents and research by staff, we obtain information about the dietary rules of the religious groups to which children and their parents belong, and of vegetarians and vegans and about food allergies.  We take account of this information in the provision of food and drinks.
• We have fresh drinking water constantly available for the children.  We inform the children about how to obtain the water and ensure they can ask for water at any time during the day.
• Through the extended services provision children are provided with breakfast and tea which have been checked by nutritionists from the catering company.

The Eating Environment

We organise meal and snack times so that they are social occasions in which children and staff participate. Children sit together on small tables and are encouraged to use the opportunity to talk about what they are eating.

• Children have the opportunity to explore the textures of food through sensory activities across the Centre.
• We use meal and snack times to help children develop independence through making choices, serving food and drink and feeding themselves.
• We provide children with utensils which are appropriate for their ages and stages of development and which take account the eating practices in their cultures.
• Milk is available daily to children as part of the Coolmilk scheme.
• We celebrate a variety of festivities throughout the year, including Christmas and Eid when parents are encouraged to participate and bring food contributions from home