Policy statement

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We provide and/or serve food for the children on the following basis

• Snacks

• Packed lunches

Where children are provided with meals, snacks and drinks, they must be healthy, balanced and nutritious.

 

We maintain the highest possible food hygiene standards with regard to the purchase, storage, preparation and serving of food.

 

We are registered as a food provider with the local authority Environmental Health Department.

 

Procedures:

 

• Our staff understand the principles of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) as it applies to our setting.

• All staff follow the guidelines of Safer Food, Better Business 

• All staff who are involved in the preparation and handling of food have received training in food hygiene

• We use reliable suppliers for the food we purchase

• Food is stored at correct temperature and is checked to ensure that it is in date and not subject to contamination by pests, rodents or mould

• Packed lunches are stored in the fridge, hot lunches in thermos flasks are stored in the lunch basket

• Food preparation areas are cleaned before and after use

• There are separate facilities for hand washing and washing up dishes

• All utensils are cleaned and stored appropriately 

• Waste food is disposed of in the food waste bin, these are emptied daily

• Cleaning materials and other dangerous materials are stored out of children's reach

• Children do not have free access to the kitchen, cooking activities involving the children are done in the main room, any food prepared will be taken by a member of staff into the kitchen

• Snack is prepared and eaten within half an hour, unless pre-prepared and stored in the fridge​

 

When children take part in cooking activities, they:

• Are supervised at all times

• Understand the importance of handwashing and simple hygiene rules

• Are kept away from hot surfaces and hot water

• Do not have unsupervised access to electrical equipment such as blenders etc. 

• Do not have access to sharps

 

Reporting of food poisoning:

 

Food poisoning can occur for a number of reasons, not all cases of sickness or diarrhoea are as a result of food poisoning, and not all cases of sickness and diarrhoea are reportable.

 

Where children and/or adults have been diagnosed by a GP or hospital doctor to be suffering from food poisoning and where it seems possible that a source of the outbreak is within our setting the manager will contact the environmental health department to report the outbreak and will comply with any investigation.

 

We will notify Ofsted as soon as reasonably practical for any confirmed cases of food poisoning affecting two or more children looked after on the premises, and always within 14 days of the incident.