Food Safety and Nutrition Policy- College Nurseries

1. Policy Statement

   • 1.1 Our setting is a suitable, clean, and safe place for children to be cared for, where they can grow and learn. We meet all statutory requirements for food safety and fulfil the criteria for meeting the relevant Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding and Welfare requirements.

   • 1.2 Leicester College recognises that it has a corporate responsibility and duty of care for those who work in and receive a service from our provision, but individual employees and service users also have responsibility for ensuring their own safety as well as that of others. Risk assessment is the key means through which this is achieved.

   • 1.3 This nursery regards snack and mealtimes as an important part of the day. Eating represents a social time for children and adults and helps children to learn about healthy eating. At snack and mealtimes, we aim to provide nutritious food, which meets the children's individual dietary needs.

   • 1.4. The nursery has the following procedures in place for Food Safety and Nutrition

     • 1. Food Preparation, Storage and Purchase

     • 2. Allergies and Food Intolerance

     • 3. Milk and baby food preparation

     • 4. Menu planning and nutrition

     • 5. Meeting dietary requirements

     • 6. Breast feeding

     • 7. Prime Times – Snack times and Meal Times

2. Objectives

   • 2.1 We provide nutritionally sound meals and snacks which promote health and reduce the risk of obesity and heart disease that may begin in childhood.

   • 2.2 We ensure that children are supervised at mealtimes and that children are within sight and hearing of a member of staff.

   • 2.3 We follow the main advice on dietary guidelines and the legal requirements for identifying food allergens when planning menus based on the four food groups: • meat, fish, and protein alternatives • milk and dairy products • cereals and grains • fresh fruit and vegetables.

   • 2.4 Following dietary guidelines to promote health also means taking account of guidelines to reduce risk of disease caused by unhealthy eating.

   • 2.5 Parents/carers share information about their children’s particular dietary needs with staff when they enrol their children and on an on-going basis with their key person. This information is shared with all staff who are involved in the care of the child.

   • 2.6 Foods provided by the setting for children, have any allergenic ingredients identified on the menus.

   • 2.7 Care is taken to ensure that children with food allergies do not have contact with food products that they are allergic to.

   • 2.8 We notify Ofsted of any food poisoning affecting two or more children in our care as soon as possible and at least within 14 days.

   • 2.9 Risk assessments are conducted for each individual child who has a food allergy or specific dietary requirement.

3. Legal References

   • Regulation (EC) 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the hygiene of foodstuffs.

     • Food Information Regulations 2014

     • The Childcare Act 2006

4. Further Guidance

   • Safer Food Better Business for Caterers (Food Standards Agency) https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/safer-food-better-business-forcaterers

     Early Years Foundation Stage nutrition guidance 2025