Food, Nutrition & Allergy Policy

1. Statement of Intent

[Setting Name] is committed to providing nutritious, balanced meals and snacks that support children's health and development. We take allergies and dietary requirements extremely seriously and have robust procedures in place to keep every child safe.

We follow the Caroline Walker Trust guidelines for Eating Well in the Early Years and the EYFS welfare requirement to promote good health and manage food allergies.

2. The 14 Major Allergens

Under UK food law, food businesses must declare any of the following 14 allergens when used as an ingredient. We take all 14 seriously and record any child allergies against this list:

3. Allergy Information Gathering

• Before a child starts at the setting, we collect full details of all known allergies, intolerances, and dietary restrictions on the child's registration form
• Allergy information is kept in the child's file and is also displayed in the kitchen / food preparation area where only staff can see it
• We ask parents to update us immediately if any new allergies are identified or if medical advice changes
• We distinguish between food allergies (immune response, can be life-threatening), food intolerances (digestive response), and dietary preferences (religious, ethical, lifestyle)

4. Managing Allergies in the Setting

4.1 For mild/moderate allergies and intolerances

• The allergen is completely excluded from the child's food and drink
• We check ingredient labels before every use — even familiar products, as recipes change
• We use separate utensils, plates, and preparation surfaces for allergen-free meals where there is a risk of cross-contamination
• Staff are briefed on each child's allergies at the start of every session

4.2 For severe allergies (anaphylaxis risk)

• A copy of the child's Allergy Action Plan is displayed in the kitchen and kept in the first aid kit
• All staff are trained in recognising anaphylaxis symptoms and administering an auto-injector
• Auto-injectors are checked monthly for expiry and replaced promptly
• Auto-injectors accompany the child on all outings
• If anaphylaxis occurs: administer EpiPen → call 999 → call parents → remain with child until ambulance arrives → administer second EpiPen after 5 minutes if symptoms do not improve
• All anaphylaxis incidents are reported to Ofsted

4.3 Allergen-free settings

Where a child has a severe nut allergy, [Setting Name] operates as a [complete nut-free / nut-aware] setting. Parents of all children are notified and requested not to bring nut-containing foods onto the premises.

5. Nutrition and Meal Planning

We are committed to providing nutritious, varied, and enjoyable food. Our meals and snacks follow these principles:

• Fruit and/or vegetables offered at every snack and meal
• Wholegrain options offered where possible (wholemeal bread, brown rice, oats)
• Protein at main meals: meat, fish, eggs, beans, or pulses
• Dairy included daily for calcium (milk, cheese, yoghurt) — with alternatives for dairy-free children
• Sugar and salt are kept low — we do not add salt to children's food
• Water is available throughout the day; milk offered at mealtimes
• Sugary drinks (including juice) are limited to mealtimes only, in small portions (diluted)
• Sweet treats (cake, biscuits) are occasional, not daily

5.1 Weaning and babies

• We follow parents' lead on weaning, in line with NHS guidance (around 6 months)
• New foods are introduced one at a time, and parents are notified of anything new before it is offered
• We follow safe preparation guidelines for formula and expressed breast milk
• Honey is not given to children under 12 months
• Whole nuts and grapes (uncut) are not given to children under 5

5.2 Sample snack ideas (allergen-free options available)

• Fruit kebabs with yoghurt dip
• Rice cakes with cream cheese or avocado
• Sliced banana and oat cakes
• Cucumber, carrot, and pepper sticks with hummus
• Scrambled egg on wholemeal toast
• Plain popcorn (3+ years)

6. Religious and Cultural Dietary Requirements

We respect and accommodate all religious and cultural dietary requirements, including:

• Halal — we [do / do not] provide halal meat. Where we do not, meat-free alternatives are offered
• Kosher — meat-free alternatives are provided
• Vegetarian — fully catered for in all meals
• Vegan — fully catered for, with appropriate protein and calcium alternatives

Parents are asked to specify dietary requirements at registration. We do not require parents to explain the reason for dietary restrictions.

7. Hygiene and Food Safety

• The person preparing food holds a Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate: [Name, expiry date]
• Food preparation surfaces are cleaned and sanitised before and after use
• Hands are washed before preparing food and after handling raw meat
• Fridge temperature is checked and recorded [daily / weekly] — maintained at 1–5°C
• Leftovers are stored correctly or discarded
• Use-by dates are checked before every use
• Raw and cooked foods are stored separately

8. Policy Review

This policy is reviewed annually or when allergy guidance changes. Next review: [Date]