health
safety
staff
|
Early Years Food PolicyDrinking water is available at all times. Water or milk will be available at snack time. Water will be available at lunch and dinner times. Children will be asked at regular intervals, especially in warm weather, if they require a drink and the child may also ask at any time if they require a drink.
We ask that children bring in a named water bottle containing drinking water only which will be refilled during the day as required. Following the NHS guidance1, we ask that the bottles contain no fizzy drinks, squash or juice. If these are brought in we will put the drink into a cup for the child to have with their main meal and replace it with water. Snacks and meals will be prepared in the kitchen. We have a rolling snack bar in the morning and afternoon, allowing children to have snack in small groups and minimizing disturbance to their play. Children help in making their own snack wherever possible. We will endeavor to meet the children’s individual and cultural/religious needs for food and encourage taster sessions for unusual tastes. Parents must inform the manager of any allergies or specific dietary requirements their child may have, and we will do everything possible to comply with these. Parents can provide food for their child and this will be stored in the correct way with the child’s name attached. Babies’ bottles/equipment will be sterilized before use. Parents can also provide ready-made bottles if they require. At Wild Monkeys Childcare Ltd we also use food in play, for example flour in a touch spot tray for mark making, pasta necklaces to promote physical development, real food products in kitchen role play and more. If a child has allergies, we will avoid potentially allergenic items in play. We have completed risk assessments for the use of flour in play, as advised by the FSA2. 1 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/drinks-and-cups-for-babies-and-young-children/ 2 https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/handling-flour-and-flour-products-safely
|