At The Tots Clubhouse Nursery School, we believe that mealtimes should be happy, social occasions for children and staff alike. We promote shared, enjoyable positive interactions at these times. 

We encourage parents/carers/guardians to support children to use a chair and table for mealtimes.  From the age of 2 years old, we expect children to engage in social mealtimes at a table.

We have the minimum Ofsted requirement for a kitchen to store packed lunches provided by parents/carers/guardians and to heat small amounts of food using a toaster, microwave and with hot water.

Food Business Registration

We are registered with North Warwickshire Borough Council as a Food Business.  

Our UFBR is: NSWS0X-10WL18-SD7VFB

This means that North Warwickshire Borough Council can make inspections of our kitchen, staff training records and food preparation processes.

Staff Training in Food Preparation

All staff who are handling and preparing food have received Level 2 Food Hygiene training, which is updated every three years.

Kitchen and Food Preparation

The Tots' Clubhouse Nursery School does not have a dedicated kitchen to cook meals. Reheating meals in a microwave is the only provision available.

Any meals delivered to the setting will be delivered by an external catering company and reheated in a microwave.  We aim to use local 5 star rated kitchens run by local businesses.

Each child is expected to bring with them their packed lunch, snacks, milk (formula/breast milk) and a water bottle, as appropriate.  This will be stored appropriately.

The Tots' Clubhouse Nursery School will maintain records as required to be a registered food business with North Warwickshire Borough Council and will be open for inspection as required.

Breakfast

All children arriving between 7.30am and 8.45am will be given breakfast.  This is included within funded and self-funded places.

Breakfast is included:

• Toast
• Fruit salad
• Cereal including porridge
• Cold milk
• Water

Morning Snacks

Children are expected to have sufficient food with them for a morning snack.

Lunch Meals

Children are expected to have sufficient food with them for a lunchtime meal.

Afternoon Snacks

Children are expected to have sufficient food with them for an afternoon snack.

Evening Meals

Children who are attending the Nursery School either for 10 hours or after 5pm will require to have with them sufficient food for an evening meal. 

Paid for Meals

Children who require paid for meals will only be provided with a meal that can be purchased from a supermarket or food supplier with a good food hygiene rating. 

Dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free and other free-from meals can be provided.

Typical meals provided:

• Frozen jacket potato heated in a microwave with butter and grated cheese.
• Pre-cooked pasta heated in a microwave with pasta sauce and grated cheese.
• Frozen mash potato heated in a microwave with butter and grated cheese. 
• Pre-cooked ready-meals heated in a microwave. 
• Pre-packed soup heated in a microwave.
• Pre-packed rice meals heated in a microwave.
• Pre-packed baked beans, spaghetti, spaghetti hoops, hot-dog sausages, pasta shapes heated in a microwave.
• Toasted potato waffles heated in a toaster.
• Toasted pancakes, crumpets and bread slices in a toaster.
• Fruit: apples, bananas, pears, oranges.
• Salad: pepers, cucumbers, tomatoes.
• Vegetables: broccoli, carrots, sweetcorn, peas, cauliflower.
• Cheese.

We ensure that:

• Food options are planned in advance and in line with guidance produced by the Department for Education, and these are rotated regularly and reflect cultural diversity and variation. 
• All allergens are displayed alongside the meal to show the contents of ingredients.
• We provide nutritious food at all snack and meal times, avoiding large quantities of fat, sugar, salt and artificial additives, preservatives and colourings.
• Parents and children are involved in menu planning.
• Individual dietary requirements are respected. 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.
• We provide foods from the diet of each of the children’s cultural backgrounds, providing children with familiar foods and introducing them to new ones.

Promoting Healthy Meals and Nutrition

We are committed to encouraging families to provide health, nutritious and balanced meals and snacks.  We are also committed to offering children healthy, nutritious and balanced meals and snacks, which meet individual needs and requirements. 

• Only 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

Managing Food Allergies and Intolerances

• We give careful consideration to seating to avoid cross contamination of food from child to child. An adult will sit with the children during meals to ensure safety and minimise risks. Where appropriate, age/stage discussions will also take place with all children about allergies and potential risks to make them aware of the dangers of sharing certain foods.
• Staff will 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.

Social Eating

• Staff set a good example and eat with the children and show good table manners. Meal and snack times are organised so that they are social occasions in which children and staff participate in small groups. During meals and snack times children are encouraged to use their manners and say 'please' and 'thank you' and conversation is encouraged.
• Staff use meal and snack times to help children to develop independence through making choices, serving food and drink, and feeding themselves.
• Staff support children to make healthy choices and understand the need for healthy eating.
• Cultural differences in eating habits are respected.
• Any child who shows signs of distress at mealtimes, will be encouraged to eat and engage in the social eating, but at a pace that meet the needs of the child.
• Children not on special diets are encouraged to eat a small piece of everything that they have been provided with.
• Children who refuse to eat at the mealtime are offered food later in the day.
• Children are given time to eat at their own pace and not rushed.
• Quantities offered take account of the ages of the children being catered for in line with recommended portion sizes for young children.

Learning Opportunities Using Food

• We promote positive attitudes to healthy eating through play opportunities and discussions.
• 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 we have frequent birthdays and celebrations we consider other alternatives such as celebrating through smiles and praise, stickers and badges, choosing a favourite story, becoming a special helper, playing a party game, dancing and/or singing their favourite song.
• We do allow parents to bring in cakes on special occasions. We ensure that all food brought in from parents meets the above and health and safety requirements and ingredients that are listed within the Food Information for Consumers (FIR) 2014 and detailed in the allergens policy and procedure.

Food Poisoning

• In the very unlikely event of any food poisoning affecting two or more children on the premises, whether or not this may arise from food offered at the Nursery School, we will inform Ofsted as soon as reasonably practical and in all cases within 14 days. We will also inform the relevant health agencies and follow any advice given. 

Dated: 12 September 2024 Review date: December 2025