Tots and Time Out Nursery

Welcome to Tots and Time Out
At Tots and Time out we ensure a home from home feel for all children where they are loved and nurtured in a beautiful environment with lovely equipment and resources and a passionate dedicated team. We also have a wonderful sister nursery 'Bright Beginnings, both our Nurseries are in the heart of Eastbourne.

Healthy Eating Policy

At Tots and Time Out and Bright Beginnings we believe that mealtimes should be happy, social occasions for children and staff alike. We promote shared, enjoyable positive interactions at these times.

We believe that nutritious food and drink are essential for children’s wellbeing. We will encourage children to gain an understanding of how food and water is essential for growth. Our aim is to meet the dietary and religious requirements to promote children’s healthy growth and development. This policy is in place to promote this.

WE ARE A NUT FREE NURSERY

We will ensure that:

Parents are asked to supply balanced and healthy daily snacks for their children to have at 10am and 3pm. We ask for children to have a maximum of 2 small snacks for each snack time.
Fresh drinking water is always available and accessible. It is frequently offered to children and babies and intake is monitored. In hot weather, staff will encourage children to drink more water to keep them hydrated.
We do not provide juice for the children and we encourage parents to only provide water in their child’s nursery cup.
School Dinners are delivered in by a company called Zebedees who ensure they are delivering a daily nutritious and healthy 2 course meal for the children.
All allergens are displayed alongside the menus to show the contents of each meal
Individual dietary requirements are respected. We gather information from parents regarding their children’s dietary needs, including any special dietary requirements, preferences and food allergies that a child has and any special health requirements, before a child starts the nursery. Where there is a food allergy we will ask for a letter from the child’s doctor or Dietician. Where appropriate, we will carry out a risk assessment in the case of allergies and we may seek further advice in order to best support the child and ensure that they are provided with nutritional alternatives.
We give careful consideration to seating to avoid cross contamination of food from child to child. Where appropriate, an adult will sit with children during meals to ensure safety and minimise risks. Where appropriate, age/stage discussions will also take place with all children about allergies and potential risks to make them aware of the dangers of sharing certain foods
Staff show sensitivity in providing for children’s diets and allergies. They do not use a child’s diet or allergy as a label for the child, or make a child feel singled out because of her/his diet or allergy
Staff set a good example and eat with the children and show good table manners. Meal and snack times are organised so that they are social occasions in which children and staff participate in small groups. During meals and snack times children are encouraged to use their manners and say 'please' and 'thank you' and conversation is encouraged
Staff use meal and snack times to help children to develop independence through making choices, serving food and drink, and feeding themselves
We promote positive attitudes to healthy eating through play opportunities and discussions
The nursery provides parents with daily written records of feeding routines for all children under 3.
No child is ever left alone when eating/drinking to minimise the risk of choking
All staff who prepare and handle food are competent to do so and receive training in food hygiene which is updated every three years
In the very unlikely event of any food poisoning affecting two or more children on the premises, whether or not this may arise from food offered at the nursery, we will inform Ofsted as soon as reasonably practical and in all cases within 14 days. We will also inform the relevant health agencies and follow all advice given.
We celebrate a wide range of festivals and encourage the children to try the foods of the country. For example, for Chinese New Year, we will offer noodles and prawn crackers.
We use cooking activities to teach the children about nutrition and healthy eating.
We discourage adults within the setting from eating unhealthy foods whilst in the environment and especially in front of the children.
Staff support children to make healthy choices and understand the need for healthy eating.
Cultural differences in eating habits are always respected.
We will sometimes celebrate special occasions such as birthdays with the occasional treat of foods such as cake, sweets or biscuits. These will be given at mealtimes to prevent tooth decay and not spoil the child’s appetite.
 

High risk choking foods

Grapes
Cocktail Sausages
Cherry tomatoes
Olives
These must be cut in quarters and lengthways for us to give them to your child at nursery.

Our Baby Unit Staff have helpful information and knowledge for parents on weaning and nutrition. We also promote Breastfeeding and will always accommodate mothers that need to breastfeed their baby whilst they are in our care.

We strongly encourage that children with packed lunches are provided with healthy, balanced meals. We are able to offer advice to Parents regarding 'Healthy Eating' and give helpful leaflets on Lunchbox ideas. We discourage too many ‘treats’ in lunchboxes and ask that parents limit these.

Please click below to download our helpful eating information;

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Snack Information
Healthy living Booklet
Zebedees

34 Eshton Rd
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN22 7ES
01323726132

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93 Enys Rd
Eastbourne
East Sussex
BN21 2DX
01323 648484