Children in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage One are taught the importance of a healthy, balanced diet as part of their planned Curriculum in Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Science, Design and Technology and Personal, Social and Health Education.
The Hampshire Schools catering service,HC3S, guarantees that all hot lunches provided for children during term time comply with the National Nutritional Standards and meet the compulsory standards for Primary schools laid down by the National Regulations.
The Headteacher regularly evaluates the food served by the School kitchen in order to ensure that it conforms to required standards and that it is appropriate for the tastes of young children. Feedback is given to HC3S when appropriate.
The School subscribes to the National Free Fruit and Vegetables Scheme and every child is offered and encouraged to eat a portion of fresh fruit or vegetable every day. This provides children with a mid-morning snack and no other snacks are permitted in school. Children are encouraged to drink either milk or water at this time and sweet drinks are discouraged.
The School subscribes to a national school milk company and milk is available daily to those children whose parents choose to register. Children in the Foundation Stage are entitled to free milk until their fifth Birthday.
Every child has unlimited access to drinking water throughout each day. All children have their own water bottle which they can refill when necessary from a central water dispenser or from flasks kept in each classroom.
Children are actively encouraged to drink water throughout the day and water is always served to children with their lunch.
Parents whose children have packed lunches are encouraged to provide them with a healthy balanced lunch which must not include sweets. Any uneaten food is returned home in the lunchbox in order to inform parents of what has been consumed.
Children are actively encouraged to try new foods and at lunchtimes those who finish their main course and those who have been willing to taste something new to them are rewarded with stickers.
Parents of children who are reluctant or fussy eaters are always informed if their child has not eaten a reasonable amount of food at lunchtime.
Children with particular dietary needs, including those with food related allergies and intolerances are notified to the School on enrolment or subsequently as a need arises. Photographs of these children, together with information regarding their dietary needs, are clearly displayed in the School kitchen, the Staff Room and in their own classrooms.
Parents of such children are invited to discuss their child’s dietary needs with the School Cook so that information is fully shared and the child’s needs can be properly met and at lunchtime we ensure that the seating of these children is appropriately monitored. We expect all parents to teach their children not to share any item of their lunch with others and we endorse this rigorously in School.
All parents are urged to consider children with food related allergies when providing packed lunches for their own child, however it is impossible for the School to eliminate the possibility of food which is potentially hazardous for some children being brought onto the premises. It is therefore the responsibility of the parents of children with food related allergies to ensure that they are taught how to keep themselves safe from potential risk. This approach is the one recommended by the Anaphylaxis Society.
Parents are asked not to send any food into school to be shared with other children, eg sweets or cake to celebrate a Birthday.
Children are not permitted to bring sweets into School and if a child is found in possession of sweets they will be confiscated.
Food and sweets are not used by the School for rewards or incentives.
If a food related curriculum activity is planned, a letter will be sent home in advance, advising parents of the particular foodstuffs involved and inviting them to contact the School if they have any concerns.
If a child comes to School and complains of feeling hungry, they will be asked if they have eaten breakfast. If they have not eaten breakfast they will be offered a drink of milk and a piece of fresh fruit or vegetable and the School will inform the parents. If the same situation recurs, the School will invite the parents to come and discuss the matter in order to offer any necessary support or guidance.
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