Healthy Eating Policy and Procedure

At Little Explorers we believe healthy eating supports learning, behaviour and wellbeing. We are also committed to keeping children safe when eating, in line with EYFS 2026 and Food Standards Agency / NHS guidance.

1. Healthy Eating

We:

• Provide balanced, nutritious snacks and meals - including at least 5 portions of fruit/veg daily, whole grains, protein and water/milk only
• Follow Eat Better Start Better guidance for under 5s - low salt, low sugar, no added sugar drinks, no whole nuts for under 5s
• Cater for cultural, religious, vegetarian/vegan preferences
• Encourage children to try new foods through growing, cooking and role play - never force eating
• Provide water freely throughout the day - children can access water independently
• Do not use food as reward or punishment
• Involve children in menu planning and cooking where age-appropriate

Parents: Please tell us about any dietary needs, allergies or preferences on your All About Me form and update immediately if it changes.

2. Safe Eating - Meeting EYFS 2026

From September 2026 EYFS requires specific steps to prevent choking.

We ensure:

• Grapes, cherry tomatoes, large blueberries - cut lengthways into quarters
• Sausages- cut lengthways, skin removed, never into rounds
• Hard raw carrot, apple - grated or cooked until soft for under 3s
• No whole nuts, popcorn, marshmallows, hard sweets, chewing gum for under 5s
• No large chunks of cheese, meat or hard bread for young children

Both childminders hold current paediatric first aid including specific training in choking first aid and we have choking poster displayed.

3. Allergies, Intolerances & Medical Needs

• We obtain full written details of allergies, intolerances, cultural requirements before child starts
• Allergy action plan and medication (e.g. auto-injector) with photo displayed in kitchen with consent
• We have a separate Allergy Risk Assessment for each child
• All food provided is clearly labelled - we follow Natasha's Law principles for pre-packed snacks
• We prevent cross-contamination - separate chopping boards, utensils, handwashing
• Both childminders trained in allergy awareness and auto-injector use
• No sharing of food or drinks from home without checking

We keep a daily record of what children eat/drink for parents of under 3s and for children with allergies.

4. Food Hygiene & Preparation

• Both childminders hold Level 2 Food Hygiene
• Fridge temp checked daily (0-5°C), food stored correctly, use-by dates checked
• Thorough handwashing before food prep and before eating - adults and children
• Kitchen is risk assessed daily - cleaning products locked away
• We follow Food Standards Agency Safer Food Better Business for childminders

Packed lunches from home: We will supplement or not offer items we consider a high choking risk (whole grapes, whole nuts) and will inform parents. We keep lunchboxes cool with ice packs.

5. Mealtimes - Learning Opportunity

• Social time - we talk about colours, textures, where food comes from
• Encourage independence - pouring, using cutlery, clearing plates
• Support for weaning - we follow parents lead and NHS guidance

6. Drinks

• Water and milk only - water available all day in open cups/beakers where appropriate
• No juice, squash or sweetened drinks
• Milk - semi-skimmed only for 2+ years, whole milk for 1-2 years unless advised otherwise

7. What We Do If A Child Chokes

• We deliver first aid immediately
• Call 999 if blockage not cleared quickly
• Record incident in accident book
• Notify parents same day and Ofsted within 14 days if medical treatment needed
• Review risk assessment and how food was prepared

Declaration

We have read Eat Better Start Better, NHS Safe Weaning and FSA Choking Prevention guidance.