LUNCH & SNACK POLICY

 

Sharing mealtimes with children gives nursery staff more opportunities to extend children’s learning, particularly with the development of social skills - making choices, negotiating, conversing with friends and adults.

 

‘Childcare settings are ideal environments to provide opportunities for young children to experience new tastes; develop social skills and enjoy healthy options that will stay with them until adulthood.’ 

        Setting the Table (2015) NHS Health Scotland

 

Aims:

?Staff will aim to ensure that lunch and snack times are enjoyable and stress free experiences.

 

?Parent’s/carer’s wishes will be respected, regarding their child’s diet.

 

?Children will be treated as individuals regarding their likes and dislikes.

 

?To develop children’s social skills.

 

?To give children the opportunity to experience a variety of foods.

 

To enable staff to meet these aims they should:

?Work co-operatively with colleagues in the playroom to ensure consistency with the children.

?Respond to parent’s/carer’s wishes with regard to the cultural, religious and dietary preferences of their child.

?Staff will be a role model for good manners.

?Listen to children’s preferences regarding likes and dislikes, while encouraging them to taste something new.

?Provide an appropriate portion of food, taking into consideration: the size of the plate, the child’s preferred amount and individual knowledge of the child. 

?Give children time to eat and enjoy conversation at the table.

?Introduce a variety of food from various cultures and countries during celebrations and festivals.

 

Good practice - Lunchtime

Before  lunch

 

?Children should be encouraged to use the toilet, although they would not be prevented from going to the toilet during lunch.  Children should wash their hands before lunch.

 

?Children are provided with a napkin and encouraged to wear it round their neck or on their lap.

?Children sit at the table with different friends every day if they wish. At present, due to the COVID -19 pandemic, we are operating ‘Bubbles’ to minimise risk of infection to themselves and to others.

 

At the table

 

?Portions should be small, with extra available i.e. one ladleful of soup unless they request two.

?Children should be encouraged to use their cutlery. Drinking the last of the soup from the bowl and using a spoon to scoop up peas e.t.c. should not be viewed as inappropriate. 

?If a child has a food allergy or consistently expresses a dislike for something, then an alternative should be requested.   Staff should note this information.

?If a child does not like the pudding, a piece of fruit can be made available.

?Children should be encouraged to try new foods, however if they continually refuse it then the food should not be put on their plate.

?Children can have extra when an attempt has been made to eat the food they have asked for or enjoy.

?They do not have to eat all the extra food that they have requested.

?Pudding should not be withheld if the main course is not eaten.

?Playroom staff will stack plates from the tables when all the children are finished.

?It would be preferable that staff eat with the children, and if eating, it is necessary that they eat the same.

 

Good Practice - Snacktime

 

?Children should wash their hands before snack.

?Good manners – as above.

?Water can be substituted for milk.

?Children can choose from the selection of food provided, state their preferences and the amount they require.

?Extra snack will be available to those who wish it.

?A slow eater should be given the time to finish their snack.

 

Care Standard: 3   Health and wellbeing

Care Standard: 6   Support and development

Care Standard: 8   Equality and Fairness                        

 

 

 

?Policy reviewed in January 2021 by Janice and Morag