Date of Policy – 12 November 2021

Review Cycle – Three Yearly

Committee Responsible – CPP Committee

Date of Next Review – November 2024

Malden Manor Primary and Nursery School ‐ Whole School Food Policy Statement

Aims

Malden Manor Primary and Nursery School (MMPS) aims to provide an environment that promotes the health and well‐being of pupils, parents and staff by ensuring that all food provision and food messages are healthy and consistent. MMPS staff recognises and are committed to the fact that healthier children learn more effectively.

The Standards:

• That starchy food cooked in fat or oil must not be provided on more than two days each week
• To promote variety, the new Standards want three or more different starchy foods provided weekly, including at least one wholegrain variety.
• The theme of variety is also seen in fruit and vegetables, with caterers needing now to ensure at least three different vegetables and three different fruits are provided each week.
• When it comes to protein, the revised standards are more specific about the provision of meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non‐dairy sources. The revisions here are designed to ensure adequate levels of protein, iron and zinc and increase the variety of foods on offer.
• The same thinking is behind the new requirement for a portion of dairy food to be included every day and that lower fat milk and lactose reduced milk are made available.
• There are changes also to drinks with a maximum quantity of juice and combination drinks (apply secondary schools only). The standards have been designed to control the amount of added sugar.

Restrictions:

• No more than two portions of food that has been deep‐fried, batter coated, breadcrumb‐coated, each week.
• No more than two portions of food which include pastry each week.
• No snacks, except nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit with no added salt, sugar or fat.
• No confectionery, chocolate and chocolate‐coated products.
• No cakes, biscuits, pastries or desserts (except yoghurt or fruit‐based desserts containing at least 50% fruit)
• Salt must not be available to add to food after it has been cooked.
• Any condiments limited to sachets or portions of no more than 10 grams or one teaspoon.

Provision of Food

The Eating Environment

• All pupils eat in the dining hall with their own class and then move into the playground.
• Pupils who eat a packed lunch are encouraged to sit with children who are having school meals
• An attractive salad bar has been made available to children with a variety of choices.

School Meals (lunches)

• Food is provided by an external catering company; the school has a close working relationship with them. Details about the menus and company are available on the school website.
• Healthy options are promoted across the school.
• Free school meals are provided for all children in Reception to Year 2 and those eligible for free school meals in KS2.
• Food is presented at child height, plus photographs are on display and the chef and other staff go through the options verbally.
• Children are encouraged to try different foods by the chef and other staff. Taster pots are offered.
• Children are expected to choose one of the main options and vegetables and salad each day.
• Healthy dessert options are offered, ranging from fruit, yoghurts and other alternatives baked on site.
• Members of staff discuss healthy options and help make decisions, so that children have a balanced diet. Some members of staff then sit with children and eat their meals with pupils.
• Children are encouraged to eat their main meal before dessert and this is monitored by the members of staff present in the hall.
• Children who eat little or too much food are monitored and encouraged and their teachers and parents are informed.
• The chef is informed about children who have special dietary needs or allergies and this information is also noted on a dietary list and the child will wear a red wrist band. All other dietary requirements are colour coded with wrist bands.
• The school has regular themed days related to a topic or the time of the year such as Christmas, Chinese New Year, Independence Day etc. decided by both staff and children.

Packed Lunches

• Children are encouraged to show their packed lunches to a member of staff before and after they have eaten especially in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1.
• ‘Unhealthy food’ may be removed by staff and returned to the child at the end of the day.
• Parents are consulted by a class teacher or a member of senior staff if lunch boxes do not contain a balanced diet. Healthier options are discussed and ‘healthy packed lunch box’ leaflets are offered.
• All parents and carers have received a letter detailing healthy choices which are permitted in a packed lunch.

Breakfast Club

• Children arrive in school at 7.30am and social interaction is encouraged whilst eating breakfast. After they have had breakfast pupils have the opportunity to play a variety of board games or read books. Outdoor play is also encouraged.
• The food is prepared fresh on site by the Out of Hours Club staff.
• The food on offer ranges from, sugar free cereals and milk, white and brown bread, margarine, sugar free jam, yoghurt, raisins, fruit and other dried fruit. Fresh fruit and juices are also available.

After School Club

Standards for school food other than lunch

Many of the food-based standards apply to food served throughout the school day including breakfast clubs, mid-morning break and after school clubs.

Restrictions apply with regards to foods which are high in fat, sugar and salt and as these restrictions apply throughout the school day a process must be in place to ensure breakfast, morning break, after school club food provision doesn’t contravene the standards throughout the school day. For example, if the weekly menu has a chicken pie and an apple pie featuring the same week other pastry items cannot be served during this week.

Snacks

• At MMPS milk will be offered to all pupils from Reception to year 6 at lunchtime. Nursery are offered milk during ‘snack time’ during the session.
• A range of fresh fruit or vegetables is offered to children in Nursery to KS1 during morning play.

Drinking Water

• Drinking water is provided in all classes, on tap for children to drink water throughout the day. Pupils are encouraged to bring in individual, clean plastic/ metal bottles from which to drink. Clean plastic cups are provided in Nursery and Reception classes.
• The school also has a number of water fountains.

Curriculum

• The formal curriculum develops pupils’ knowledge of healthy eating through Design and Technology and cross‐curricular links.
• The profile of healthy eating is raised through focus on Science and DT topics, healthy food activities and workshops including the after-school Chef’s Club run in conjunction with the NHS.
• In Key Stage 1 and 2 children learn the importance of healthy living in Science, DT and PSHCE.

Topics include: Ourselves, Health and Growth, Keeping Healthy and eat more Fruit and Vegetables. The message of healthy living is threaded through the New Primary Curriculum and especially through Design and Technology.

Provision for Staff

• Staff are encouraged to eat healthily themselves.
• Some staff members choose to have a school dinner. Some choose to eat with the children.
• Staff have discussions about healthy eating and food policy. This ensures that everyone is part of the process and that opinions of staff, pupils and parents are valued.
• During parents evening staff are offered healthy food options, including fruit and juice.
• Staff involved in food preparation for breakfast and after school club have a food hygiene certificate.
• Milk is provided for staff on a daily basis in both Key Stages.

Parents

• Information about school meals is shared with parents via menus displayed in the front foyer, newsletters and the school website.
• When parents and visitors come to the school the refreshments provided reinforce the schools healthy eating message, such as water, fruit juice and fresh fruit.
• The school provides healthy eating workshops for children and information for parents.

Other Information

• Sweets or chocolates for special occasions, such as birthdays are not permitted.
• Multicultural food is encouraged during parties such as Diwali and Christmas.
• The use of sweets for rewards is kept to a minimum. Instead, children are rewarded with stickers, praise, visits to other classes and certificates to celebrate their work.
• Spare fruit from Key Stage 1 is given to Key Stage 2 when possible.
• During SATs week all year 6 pupils are offered free healthy breakfasts

• Religious observance may be requested by parents in writing
• Also refer to food allergies within the medical conditions policy
• We are a Nut Free School