Healthy eating policy nursery

1. Stronsay Junior High School
Nursery Policy
Head Teacher: Andrew King
Stronsay Junior High School, Stronsay, Orkney, KW17 2AE 01857 616 246
Healthy Eating Policy
Healthy Eating- the importance of food in the nursery.
Talking about, preparing, growing and eating food offers a wealth of opportunities to develop
children’s enjoyment and understanding of healthy eating as well as their wider understanding
of the work and their social skills. The food experiences offered to children in the nursery help
children try new textures, tastes, colours. We help the children to understand where their food
has come from. The link between food and health are a vital part of the child’s learning.
Children between the ages of 2 and 5 years need food between meals because their stomachs
are so small, so three small meals plus 1,2 or 3 snacks is the recommended eating pattern.
Providing children with good nutrition can improve their ability to play, learn and socialise. It
helps to ensure good growth and development and can protect against the development of
heart disease, certain cancers and becoming overweight.
Food is much more than nutrition. Meals, snacks and drinks form part of our culture, social
times, pleasure, and as such form an important part of children’s experiences and education.
Snack time can reinforce children’s understanding of the importance of healthy eating.
We offer children daily opportunities to have fruit as part of our healthy snack time. Children
may also have the opportunity to take part in baking activities, or to try a variety of different
celebration foods. Children should not bring in their own snack to nursery.
Semi-skimmed milk is provided for the children each day.
Any food that is offered will be fresh, wholesome and balanced. There will be no additional
sugars or salts added.
Staff make sure that they are familiar with the nutrition guidance that is published for the Early
Years, using the “Setting the Table” document, and they have access to the Nutritional Guidance
for Early Year documents.
We will use food to enrich the nursery curriculum in the following ways:
 Snack time will be an opportunity for children to develop their personal and social skills,
passing and offering food, saying please and thank you etc.
 Introducing foods from other parts of the world introducing tastes and smells of other
cultures extending and developing their knowledge of the world and the rich variety of
cultures within it.
 Food can help introduce many mathematical concepts, such as fractions, sharing, shapes.
 We can enjoy stories, songs, poems, rhymes and reference books about food.
 We talk about the importance of healthy eating and a balanced diet to help us keep fit and
to grow.

2. Stronsay Junior High School
Nursery Policy
Head Teacher: Andrew King
Stronsay Junior High School, Stronsay, Orkney, KW17 2AE 01857 616 246
 We may make visits to the local shop or farm to find out about the food journey.
 Me might use food items as part of our art work to print, or explore shapes, colours or
textures.
 By exploring different foods we can develop our sense of taste, smell, texture, sound,
shape and colour and use lots of associated language.
Healthy eating and social skills
Snack time is an important part of the nursery day. It is relaxed and a social experience which
helps children to build on their social skills.
 Children will be encouraged to prepare the snack themselves, cutting fruit etc.
 A selected child will set out the snack table by setting out cups and plates.
 Good table manners will be promoted.
 Everyone is encouraged to have a try at something new, but no one will be forced to eat
something that they do not want to.
Special Diets
It is important that you advise the nursery of any special diets. These can be catered for, such
as vegan, vegetarian and any medical needs addressed. Allergies and food intolerances are
specially noted and catered for.
Families’ ethnic and cultural traditions are observed to ensure that children from all
backgrounds have the opportunity to both encounter familiar tastes and try new food.
School Lunches
All food is prepared in the kitchen, the table that pupils will eat their food in the nursery will be
properly cleaned prior to the children having lunch.
Health and Safety and Healthy Eating
 All staff preparing food should have a current food hygiene certificate.
 The kitchen area of the nursery is clean and all utensils and equipment is kept clean.
 Aprons are used exclusively for baking and cooking activities, are provided whenever food
is prepared.
 All children using utensils or equipment for cooking/ baking are closely supervised.
 A safe storage area, out of the children’s reach houses sharp knives, cleaning materials
etc.

3. Stronsay Junior High School
Nursery Policy
Head Teacher: Andrew King
Stronsay Junior High School, Stronsay, Orkney, KW17 2AE 01857 616 246
 Children do not have unsupervised access to the kitchen area of the nursery.
 A risk assessment has been carried out in the kitchen area to minimise the risk to children
and staff during food preparation.
 Refer to the nursery Health and Safety Policy for further guidance.
Signed:
Date: Date of Review: February 2019