Our Food
Nuestra comida
We believe that healthy eating is an important part of giving children the very best start in life. Our meals are freshly prepared on site each day by our talented kitchen team, using high-quality ingredients to create nutritious, balanced and delicious food that children enjoy.
We are proud to work in partnership with Felix, a food redistribution charity that helps reduce food waste while supporting communities in need. By paying for weekly deliveries, we not only receive fresh, quality produce, but also contribute to the charity’s wider work of redistributing surplus food to those who need it most.
Because our deliveries vary from week to week, our menus are anything but ordinary. Rather than following a fixed cycle menu, our experienced cooks create a bespoke menu every week, designed around the fresh ingredients available. This allows us to offer children a varied diet and introduce them to a wide range of flavours, textures and foods. Weekly menus are shared with parents so families can see exactly what their children will be enjoying.
During a full day at nursery, children are offered:
01
Breakfast
02
Morning snack
03
Lunch
04
Afternoon snack
05
Dinner
Hot, freshly cooked meals are provided at both lunch and dinner.
We cater for a wide range of allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements, ensuring every child can enjoy meals safely and confidently. Our team works closely with families to understand individual needs and provide suitable alternatives wherever required.
As part of our commitment to celebrating diversity and broadening children’s experiences, we regularly incorporate dishes and ingredients from different cultures around the world. Introducing children to a variety of cuisines helps to develop adventurous eaters, broaden their palates and encourage an appreciation of different cultures and traditions.
Mealtimes are an important part of our curriculum and are designed to promote independence, confidence and social skills. We serve meals family-style, with children and adults eating together around the table. Children are encouraged to serve themselves, make choices about their food and take responsibility for their own eating, helping them develop valuable life skills while enjoying a positive and sociable dining experience.
Through fresh food, shared experiences and a focus on independence, we aim to help children develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime.
We understand that every child’s weaning journey is different, which is why we work closely with families to follow your lead from home. We tailor meals, textures and portion sizes to your child’s individual stage of weaning, aiming to provide a consistent, familiar experience between home and nursery. As your child progresses at home, we’ll work alongside you to reflect those changes at nursery too.
We also carefully cater for allergies, intolerances and individual dietary requirements, working in partnership with families to ensure every child can enjoy nutritious and varied mealtimes safely. Our aim is for mealtimes to feel happy, relaxed and inclusive, while supporting children to develop confidence and independence around food.
Comida y cuidados
Food, Care & What to Bring
If you require any further information, please don’t hesitate to ask us.
What food do you provide for my child?
We provide nutritious, balanced meals and snacks that support children’s growth, development and wellbeing. Our menus include a variety of fruit, vegetables, wholegrains, protein-rich foods and dairy or suitable alternatives, helping children enjoy a wide range of tastes, textures and flavours through our membership with FareShare.
Can you cater for allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements?
Yes. We work closely with families to understand and safely manage allergies, intolerances, medical dietary requirements and cultural or religious preferences. Please share all relevant information with us before your child starts, so we can put appropriate arrangements in place.
How do you encourage healthy eating?
We create positive mealtime experiences and encourage children to explore different foods at their own pace. Children are offered a varied selection of nutritious foods and supported to develop healthy eating habits, independence and an understanding of where food comes from.
Do children have opportunities to eat independently?
Yes. Children are encouraged to develop independence during mealtimes by making choices, using cutlery, pouring drinks where appropriate, helping with simple routines and serving themselves. Practitioners provide support and encouragement while respecting each child’s appetite and individual needs.
How does food support bilingual learning?
Mealtimes provide natural opportunities for children to hear and use both English and Spanish. Practitioners introduce vocabulary linked to food, tastes, textures, colours and mealtime routines through conversation, songs and shared experiences, helping children develop language in a relaxed and meaningful way.
What do I need to bring for my child?
Wellies and a waterproof coat and trousers.
Depending on the season, a hat, gloves and waterproof coat or sunhat.
A minimum of one full change of clothes in case your child gets wet or dirty.
If your child really needs a comforter such as a soft toy, they can bring it, but we take no responsibility if it is lost or broken. We advise stopping bringing a comforter in their final year before school to aid with transition.
Please ensure all items are fully labelled with your child’s name.
We do go out in the mud and use paint and messy materials, so we advise you to send children in old clothes. We want children to have fun, get stuck in and not have to worry about what they look like.
What if my baby is on breast or formula milk?
No problem.
Breast milk should be sent in frozen, labelled bags.
Formula milk should be sent in a sealed container labelled with your child’s name.
Do I need to send in snacks or lunch?
No. Please don’t send in any food or drink. We provide all meals as part of our package.
Our food is healthy and homemade and our menu contains no added salt or sugar. We do not serve desserts or sugary or fatty foods unless it is a special occasion such as a birthday or celebration.
What if my child is a fussy eater?
We will encourage children to try the food with their friends.
We will not immediately offer an alternative, as this can become disruptive for the other children, but we will not let a child go hungry. We encourage children to try elements of the meal even if they do not want to eat all of it, take into account what else they have eaten that day, and avoid putting pressure on them to eat.
Our meals are ‘self-service’, so children can help themselves to the quantity of food they want and come back for seconds if they wish. Staff monitor this to help children develop healthy portion awareness.
We often find that even fussy children become more willing to try food when they are sitting and eating together with their friends.
Do you give medication?
We administer prescription medication in accordance with our medication policy.
We will apply nappy cream without a prescription and also Calpol in the event of an emergency to bring down a temperature.
If we give a dose of Calpol, you must collect your child within an hour.
Please bring a labelled bottle of Calpol if you wish us to administer it to your child.
Do you brush their teeth?
Brushing teeth is part of our daily routine and toothbrushes and toothpaste are provided by us.
If you wish your child to have a particular kind of toothpaste, you will need to provide your own.