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FOOD POLICY

BRITANNIA EDUCATION TRUST

FOOD POLICY

Adopted: June 2017

Reviewed: November 2018

Next Review: Autumn 2021

Aims of the Policy

To promote the health and wellbeing of pupils, staff and visitors in schools within Britannia Education Trust.
To promote healthy eating habits that lead to lifelong healthy living.
To ensure the care of pupils who have food related medical conditions such as diabetes, allergies and obesity.

The eating environment:

The dining area is clean, welcoming and nutritionally informative.
It is fully accessible and inclusive.
Lunch-time supervisors are given appropriate training.
Reception pupils buddy up with an older pupil who supports them through the lunchtime experience.
Staff are offered one free school meal per week, which must be eaten in the dinner hall, sitting beside children, to model healthy eating, encourage pupils to make healthy choices and promote social interaction and good table manners at the meal table.

School meals:

Food is prepared on site by Juniper Catering Services and their staff.
Pupil surveys feed into the menu choices which are ultimately agreed by the headteacher.
Menus are sent to parents via parent mail.
Meals follow recommended guidelines and consist of a choice of main course (fish, meat, vegetarian or sandwich options), vegetables, desserts, fresh fruit, bread, daily salad bar, water and milk.
Meat is non-halal, based on our own cultural circumstances together with the following rationale:
- A daily choice of at least two alternatives is available to everyone
- Sensitivity to other religions/non religions (who may not wish to eat halal meat)
- No risk of any cross-contamination
- Sensitivity to animal welfare rights issues
- A clear policy which children, parents, school staff and catering staff can be advised of
Juniper catering will also provide meals for pupils on special diets (see below)
Pupils are informed about the benefits of a balanced diet, including eating salad and/or vegetables each day.
Packed lunches will be provided instead of a meal when pupils attend an educational visit; this will consist of a sandwich, drink, cheese and biscuits and fresh fruit.

Medical Conditions and Food Allergies:

Pupils who have food related medical conditions or allergies will be identified on admission.
Where applicable (diagnosed conditions) additional information will be requested by office admin staff and a referral made to the SENCO.
The SENCO will arrange for a Care Plan via the School Nurse if appropriate.
The class teacher will be informed, provided with the care plan and will ensure that class activities involving food are safe and appropriate for all children to participate in. Class activities will be discussed with parents of pupils where special arrangements may need to be made.
The SENCO will arrange for the caterer to provide a child specific menu if appropriate.
The SENCO will arrange adult support for pupils with diagnosed special educational needs who require feeding or close supervision at lunchtimes.
The school catering staff will have photographs and dietary details of all pupils who require a special diet.
All staff are trained in the use of epipens and key staff are trained to care for pupils with diabetes.
Care plans are kept in a clearly labelled file in the main office.
Pupils with specific food allergies should have home dinners or packed lunches until such time as the child specific menu is agreed by parents and the caterers.
Juniper catering will provide meals for pupils on special diets:
- Young pupils (reception and year 1) with special dietary requirements will wear a label to ensure they receive the correct food.
- Older pupils (from Year 2) with allergies are required to wear an allergy bracelet.
- All pupils on special diets receive their food on a red tray.
- It should be noted that while Juniper’s recipes are nut and seed free, they are unable to guarantee that all of the ingredients are sourced from 100% nut free factories. Their suppliers are also unable to give such guarantees.

Wide Awake Club:

The WAC is a before-school, chargeable, childcare provision. Families making use of this facility should provide their children with breakfast at home as no food is provided.

Packed lunches from home:

Healthy foods are encouraged and promoted by members of staff on lunch duty
Stickers may be given to pupils who bring a healthy packed lunch i.e. include fruit/veg and no crisps
Information on how to make healthy and varied packed lunches is made available to parents/carers
We promote the use of reusable containers to cut down on waste
Chocolate bars, sweets, fizzy drinks and fast foods are not allowed. Parents may be contacted if their child’s packed lunch contains these items.
Uneaten food will be left in the child’s packed lunch box so that parents can see what has been eaten.

Snacks/Water/Milk:

Water is available at all times and individual water bottles promoted.
Fruit is provided at morning break time.
Milk is available to under-fives in the classroom and to any child who chooses it at lunchtime.
Nursery and reception children have access to healthy snacks.

Curriculum:

Healthy eating and lifestyle is taught through the curriculum.
Healthy eating options and medical conditions/food allergies will be considered when planning food preparation in class.
Food hygiene guidelines will be followed when preparing food.

Provision for staff:

There are facilities available for staff to prepare and eat their own food; these include a kitchen preparation area with fresh drinking water, a boiling water dispenser, fridge, toaster, oven, microwaves, crockery and cutlery.
Staff can order school lunches which are chargeable at the fee set by the caterer.
Staff may eat their lunches with the children or in the staff room but not in their classrooms.
Staff should wash up and clear away the crockery and utensils they have used and leave the staff room clean and tidy. This is not the cleaner’s job.
Staff wishing to have a hot drink in their classroom must have it in a cup with a lid and keep it in a safe place. Cups with lids are provided in the staffroom.

Birthdays:

No party bags or cakes are allowed due to possible special diets and allergies. One wrapped item only (one sweet or small packet of sweets) per child may be given at the end of the day. The packaging should be available for checking ingredients. Acceptance is optional - children and parents/carers may decline if not wanted.

Provision for parents:

When menus are renewed the school emails them to parents and/or a hard copy may be collected from the relevant school office within the Trust.
Booklets and leaflets with information about healthy packed lunches are available in the reception area.
Parents of reception children are invited to accompany their child on their first school dinner experience.

Fasting:

The practice of fasting is voluntary in some religions whilst in other religions it is only obligatory from the age of puberty. It is natural, however, that some children will wish to emulate their elders by fasting for restricted periods of time. The level of observance among children will depend upon the particular individual, family or community. Most parents would not wish their children of primary school age to be fasting on school days, but would rather make this an activity that they participate in at weekends when they can rest or sleep in the afternoons at home and when they can benefit from the experience of fasting as part of a family and a religious community.

The Trust recommends that children do not fast on days when they have P.E., dance or swimming. When children are fasting the Trust expects parents or carers to collect them and take them home at lunch times (between 12 and 1pm). This is in the best interests of the children, who will be better able to rest, pray and build their stamina for afternoon lessons and activities at school. The Trust fully supports families making such decisions in Years 5 and 6. The Trust would not normally expect children in Year 4 and below to fast.