Food Safety and Nutrition Policy
Aim
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.
Procedures for children with allergies
- When children start at the setting, we ask their parents if their child suffers from any known allergies. This is recorded on the Registration Form.
- If a child has an allergy, we complete a risk assessment form/Allergy plan which is shared and available to all staff and details the following:
- The allergen (i.e. the substance, material or living creature the child is allergic to such as nuts, eggs, bee stings, cats etc).
- The nature of the allergic reactions (e.g. anaphylactic shock reaction, including rash, reddening of skin, swelling, breathing problems etc).
- What to do in case of allergic reactions, any medication used and how it is to be used (e.g. Epipen).
- Control measures – such as how the child can be prevented from contact with the allergen.
- This is reviewed at least 6 monthly and parents are reminded that they must let the manager, or their key person know of any changes to their child’s allergies.
- We ensure that children are supervised at mealtimes and that children are within sight and hearing of a member of staff.
- We ensure at least half of the staff are Paediatric First Aid Trained.
- All staff receive training on food allergies, recognising the signs of a reaction, and administering emergency medication.
- We are peanut and nut free setting
- Parents are made aware so that no nut or nut products are accidentally brought in, for snacks or lunch. If they are this product is immediately removed during the daily morning food check and given back to the parents/carer with an explanation.
Insurance requirements for children with allergies
- If necessary, our insurance will include children with any disability or allergy, but certain procedures must be strictly adhered to as set out below. For children suffering life threatening conditions or requiring invasive treatments; written confirmation from our insurance provider must be obtained to extend the insurance.
- At all times we ensure that the administration of medication is compliant with the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
- Oral medication:
- Asthma inhalers are now regarded as ‘oral medication’ by insurers and so documents do not need to be forwarded to our insurance provider. Oral medications must be prescribed by a GP and have the GP’s name and child’s name plus issue date on the label.
- We must be provided with clear written instructions on how to administer such medication.
- We adhere to all risk assessment procedures for the correct storage and administration of the medication.
- We must have the parents or guardians prior written consent. This consent must be kept on file. It is not necessary to forward copy documents to our insurance provider.
- Life-saving medication and invasive treatments:
These include adrenaline injections (Epipens) for anaphylactic shock reactions (caused by allergies to nuts, eggs etc) or invasive treatments such as rectal administration of Diazepam (for epilepsy).
- We must have:
- a letter from the child’s GP/consultant stating the child’s condition and what medication if any is to be administered.
- written consent from the parent or guardian allowing our staff to administer medication; and
- proof of training in the administration of such medication by the child’s GP, a district nurse, children’s nurse specialist or a community paediatric nurse for staff also.
- Key person for special needs children requiring assistance with tubes to help them with everyday living e.g. breathing apparatus, to take nourishment, colostomy bags etc.:
- Prior written consent must be obtained from the child’s parent or guardian to give treatment and/or medication prescribed by the child’s GP.
- The key person must have the relevant medical training/experience, which may include receiving appropriate instructions from parents or guardians.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Parents are responsible for:
- Providing ongoing accurate and current medical information in writing to Pre- School
- Parents must be able to collect their poorly child or have an emergency contact to collect them within 30 minutes after the phone call from Pre-School in the case of an allergic reaction.
- To advise Pre-School on a regular basis of any changes to the allergy or food intolerance. Furthermore, should a child develop a condition during a year, or have a change in condition the parents must advise Pre-School immediately.
- Providing written advice from a doctor, which explains the child’s allergy/intolerance, defines the allergy/intolerance triggers and reaction, and any required medication, including completion of an allergy plan. This must include the reintroduction of food with a known intolerance.
- Providing EpiPens and/or other necessary medication, including monitoring their use by dates and replacing medication if necessary
- Providing appropriate and healthy foods to be consumed by the child.
- If the food is being reintroduced to a child’s diet this must be done during a half term or on a Friday after Pre-School as we would still need to follow our illness policy. This allows any reactions that may occur happen whilst at home with the child’s parents/guardians.
Policy statement
Crudwell Pre-School regards snack and lunch time as an important part of our day. Eating represents a social time for children and adults and helps children to learn about healthy eating. It is also a fabulous opportunity to explore language and new vocabulary. We promote healthy eating to the children accessing our Pre-School.
Please read the EYFS nutrition guidance:
Procedures
We follow these procedures to promote healthy eating in our setting.
- Before a child starts to attend the setting, we ask their parents about their dietary needs and preferences, including any allergies.
- We record information about each child’s dietary needs in the Registration Form and parents sign the form to signify that it is correct.
- We regularly consult with parents to ensure that our records of their children’s dietary needs – including any allergies – are up-to-date.
- We display current information about individual children’s dietary needs so that all our staff and volunteers are fully informed about them. All snack and lunchboxes are checked by the manager or deputy daily to ensure they fulfil our healthy eating approach and any foods which are allergens to other children are noted and the seating arrangement at lunchtime is organised to accommodate this.
- We ask all parents to provide nutritious food for all snacks and lunchboxes, avoiding large quantities of saturated fat, sugar and salt and artificial additives, preservatives and colourings.
- We are a chocolate, nut and peanut free setting.
- Through discussion with parents and research reading, we obtain information about the dietary rules of the religious groups to which children and their parents belong, and of vegetarians and vegans, as well as about food allergies. We take account of this information in the provision of seat positioning at snack and lunch time.
- We show sensitivity in providing for children’s diets and allergies. We 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.
- We organise snack and lunchtimes times so that they are social occasions in which children and adults participate.
- There is always at least one member of staff sat with the children when they are eating.
- We use meal and snack times to help children to develop independence through making choices, serving their own drinks and feeding themselves.
- We have fresh drinking water constantly available for the children. We inform the children about how to obtain the water and that they can ask for water at any time during the day.
- In order to protect children with food allergies, we discourage children from sharing and swapping their food with one another.
- For children who drink milk, we provide semi-skimmed pasteurised milk and water for those who do not drink this milk.
- We recycle as much as possible at our setting so card/plastic from lunchboxes goes in our recycling bin and foil/cling film/food bags are sent home to be reused.
Lunchboxes
We cannot provide cooked meals and children are required to bring packed lunches. We:
- inform parents of this policy on healthy eating;
- encourage parents to provide sandwiches with a healthy filling, fruit, and milk-based desserts, such as yoghurt. We don’t allow sweet drinks, and we provide children with water;
- discourage packed lunch contents that consist largely of crisps, processed foods, and sweet products such as cakes or biscuits. We reserve the right to return this food to the parent as a last resort; also taking into account the cost of healthier food and the financial struggles parents may have and children with additional needs.
- ensure that adults sit with children to eat their lunch so that the mealtime is safe and a social occasion.
- Preventing choking is so important, here is a link explaining how to keep food safe for children.
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
Further guidance
Safer Food Better Business for Caterers (Food Standards Agency)