On the menu

Food and drink policy Links to Every Child Matters

* Helping children to be healthy

* Helping children to achieve well and enjoy what they do

* Helping children make a positive contribution

* Organisation

Links to National Standards

* National Standard 2 - Organisation

* National Standard 6 - Safety

* National Standard 7 - Health

* National Standard 8 - Food and drink

* National Standard 12 - Working in partnership with parents and carers Links to legislation and key guidance

* Children Act (CA) 1989 and 2004

* United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF, 1989

* Data Protection Act (DPA) 1998

* Every Child Matters - Change for Children (ECM) 2004

* Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) 2000

* The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995

* The Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations 1995

* The Food Safety Act 1990

* The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

* Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984

* Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988

* Health Protection Agency Act 2004

Further information

* Anaphylaxis Campaign

www.anaphylaxis.org.uk

* British Dietetic Association

www.bda.uk.com

* Caroline Walker Trust

www.cwt.org.uk

* Chartered Institute of Environmental Health www.cieh.org.uk

* Department for Education and Skills

www.dfes.gov.uk

* Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs www.defra.gov.uk

* Department of Health www.dh.gov.uk

* Food Standards Agency

www.food.gov.uk and www.eatwell.gov.uk

* Health and Safety Executive

www.hse.gov.uk

A good policy includes

* How you promote breastfeeding

* How meals are provided (procedure)

* How you make sure that children receive nutritious fresh meals on a daily basis

* How you endorse and implement any Government initiatives

* How you make sure that children experience a range of foods and tastes

* How you meet the individual dietary needs of children

* How you share information with parents regarding healthy eating

* How you prepare meals (procedure)

* How you store food that is brought into the setting (procedure)

* How children are involved in the planning and preparation of food

* Your commitment to keeping a clean environment where food is prepared (procedure)

* How staff are kept informed of their responsibility for food hygiene

* How you state that food is never used as a punishment or reward

* How you state that children are never fed against their will What this means in practice:

All staff have received training in basic food hygiene. All staff who prepare meals wear a disposable apron. Staff wear disposable blue gloves when in contact with food. On entering the kitchen all staff wash their hands and wear a disposable apron. Staff personal hygiene is of a high standard.

The kitchen is cleaned on a daily basis and a regular deep cleaning of the kitchen is organised. The responsible person for the kitchen consistently checks all of the kitchen equipment and utensils for wear and tear. The setting is registered with the local authority's Environmental Health department. Any requirements and/or recommendations it makes are acted upon.

Refrigerated food is stored at 8xC or below and hot food is kept at 63xC and is allowed time to cool down before being served to children. Food brought in from outside the setting is also stored safely.

Children have access to fresh fruit on a daily basis. They are encouraged constantly to drink fresh water. Staff demonstrate an awareness of safety by never having hot drinks in the area that children are in. The menus are designed to consider seasonal fresh produce. Food supplied is low in fat and sugar. Parents who supply their own food are provided with literature that supports healthy eating.

Mothers are able to continue to breastfeed and there is a designated area in the setting to do this. Parents suggest ideas for meals eaten within their community.

Children learn about the importance of eating five pieces of fruit and/or vegetables a day. They take part in cooking activities that are linked to the learning experiences given within the setting.

Meal and snack times are seen as opportunities to extend children's learning in a social situation. When planning for children's learning, meal and snack times are noted as an area to develop.

Staff are fully aware of children who may have allergies, as every room has a photograph of the child, with their allergy and their forbidden food.

Substance policy (including alcohol, drugs & smoking) Links to Every Child Matters

* Helping children to be healthy

* Protecting children from harm or neglect and helping them stay safe

* Helping children to achieve well and enjoy what they do

* Helping children make a positive contribution

* Organisation Links to National Standards

* National Standard 2 - Organisation

* National Standard 6 - Safety

* National Standard 7 - Health

* National Standard 8 - Food and drink

* National Standard 12 - Working in partnership with parents and carers Links to legislation and key guidance

* Children Act (CA) 1989 and 2004

* United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF, 1989

* Data Protection Act DPA 1998

* Every Child Matters - Change for Children (ECM) 2004

* Freedom of Information Act 2000

* The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995

* The Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations 1995

* The Food Safety Act 1990

* The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

* Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984

* Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988

* Health Protection Agency Act 2004

Further information:

* Chartered Institute of Environmental Health www.cieh.org.uk

* Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs www.defra.gov.uk

* Department for Education and Skills www.dfes.gov.uk

* Department of Health www.dh.gov.uk

* Food Standards Agency www.food.gov.uk and www.eatwell.gov.uk

* Health and Safety Executive www.hse.gov.uk

* NHS Direct www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

* Tackling drugs saving lives www.drugs.gov.uk

A good policy includes

* How you inform staff, parents or visitors about the use of substances in the setting and the surrounding areas

* How you state where your 'no smoking' signs are displayed

* The steps that you take if staff and users do smoke within the premises (procedure)

* How you carry out disciplinary action if staff have taken a substance that affects their performance when caring for children in the setting or are under the influence of a substance (procedure)

* Where staff, parents and users can obtain information regarding the misuse of substances and stopping smoking

What this means in practice:

There is absolutely no smoking in the setting and staff do not smoke in the vicinity of the setting. 'No smoking' signs are displayed at key spots in the setting. If a member of staff smokes (before entering the setting) they wash their hands before they begin to interact with children. Literature and information is available on how to stop smoking and the misuse of substances. Procedures are acted upon sensitively by the senior management team in the event of a member of staff, visitor or parent misusing a substance.

About this series

Registration requires settings to have certain key policies and procedures.

In addition to these, there are other documents that need to be in place that reflect good practice.

This series aims to:

* Explain what needs to be included within these policies and procedures

* Show providers how to link their policies and procedures to the Every Child Matters outcomes and to relevant legislation and guidance

* Show how to include staff in the development of the policies and procedures

* Demonstrate the importance of sharing the policies and procedures with parents and stakeholders.

Setting up a working party

Setting up a working party to devise, review and monitor policies and procedures:

This is an important part of having effective documentation that works in practice. If you are considering setting up a working party you will need to consider the following points:

* How the group is set up - as a whole group or/and individual staff given the responsibility of one or several policies and procedures

* Providing cover for staff to meet

* Frequency of meetings

* How staff are involved in the process

* How information is fed back to the whole staff team

* How staff make use of guidance and legislation

* How this working party is linked to continuous professional development

* How staff make links to the policies and procedures and what happens in practice

* How policies and procedures are quality assured

* How staff are given support by the senior management team