Feeding times are seen as an opportunity for bonding between practitioner and child and where possible babies are fed by their Key Person. We ensure the following procedures are followed for bottle feeding at nursery:
Milk for babies is prepared in a separate area within the kitchen which is specifically designated for this preparation. Handwashing is completed before preparation is undertaken.
Bottles of formula milk are only made up as and when the child needs them. Following Department of Health guidelines, only recently boiled water is used to make formula bottles (left for no longer than 30 minutes to cool). Reheated cooled boiled water is not used. They are then cooled to body temperature, which means they should feel warm or cool, but not hot. Bottles are tested with a sterilised thermometer to ensure they are an appropriate temperature for the child to drink safely.
Bottles are only made following the instructions on the formula, if during the making process there are discrepancies, a new bottle will be made.
All new staff will be shown the procedure, and only when competent and confident will they make them on their own. It is down to the Nursery Manager to make a judgement as to when this is.
Nursery bottles and teats are thoroughly cleaned with hot soapy water and sterilised after use (they are not washed in the dishwasher). They are replaced as and when required.
Unwanted/left over contents of bottles are disposed of after two hours.
Babies are never left propped up or laid in a cot or a pram with bottles as it is both dangerous and inappropriate.
Labelled mothers’ breast milk is stored in the fridge.
Further information is available in the Hopscotch Food Safety Management System.
Healthy Eating
Hopscotch recognises the importance of healthy eating and we promote this at our nurseries through food focused activities and also by the choices we offer at snack and mealtimes.
Out external catering supplier Little Tums has been recognised with several awards and accreditations for providing healthy, nutritious and well-balance meals for nursery age children. Their menus have been awarded the Gold Standard in the Healthy Choice Awards. More information is available here:
Where we can, we endeavour to serve organic produce at snack times, including organic milk. We can provide alternatives to dairy milk for children on request.
We choose nutritionally balanced and fruit and vegetable-based snacks which will aid children’s development as well as supporting energy and concentration levels.
We also have Healthy Eating leaflets which we share with our parents and advises on healthy packed lunch options.
Snack and Mealtimes
Snack and mealtimes are potentially the most dangerous part of any nursery day, either from an increased risk of choking or allergic reaction. As set out below, Hopscotch has extensive procedures in place to limit the risk associated with choking or allergic reactions. Nursery staff teams are trained to implement policies and protocol which have been designed with industry experts to be effective, simple and easily implementable.
Choking
Minimising the Risk of Choking at Nursery
All precautions will be taken at every opportunity to minimise the risk of choking of children on any object, food or otherwise, whilst attending nursery. Food must be prepared in a way to prevent choking, as shown by our Food Prep Guidance. Babies and young children should be seated safely in a highchair or appropriately sized low chair while eating. Where possible, there should be a designated eating space where distractions are minimised.
Supervision of Children at Mealtimes
Supervision of children at all mealtimes is of paramount importance and meal and snack times are recognised as times when there is an increased risk of choking to children. Staff should be sitting with children and actively monitoring them whilst they are eating. This is a priority task and staff should not be undertaking other tasks which might distract them from this. Failure to do so could mean a child or children are at increased risk of choking.
Staff who are assigned as a supervisory role to children eating should never move away from this role under any circumstances. If there is an urgent situation which requires them to move away whilst children are eating, this should be explicitly communicated to another nearby member of staff. The original supervisory member of staff should not move away until a replacement member of staff has taken their position. The standing in staff member should not leave their position until the original staff member has returned. Failure to do so could mean a child or children are at increased risk of choking.
A staff member with a valid Paediatric First Aid (PFA) certificate will always be present in the room during meal and snack time, as required by the EYFS statutory framework. Staff supervising mealtimes should, where possible, sit facing the children to observe their eating behaviour, discourage food sharing, and identify any signs of distress, choking or allergic reaction. Choking can be silent, so staff must remain visually attentive as well as within hearing range at all times.
Failure to implement any of the above requirements will be considered as a failure to undertake critical childcare duties by any member of staff and could result in disciplinary action being taken.
Safe Preparation and Serving of Food
We work closely with our external food supplier to ensure meals are prepared in a way that minimises choking hazards. We acknowledge that not all risks can be eliminated, so staff conduct visual checks of all food before it is served to children, including packed lunches. If any item is deemed a choking risk, it will either be adapted to a safer form or removed and substituted with a safer alternative. Please see our FSMS for further guidance. See Appendix 3: Lunchbox Guidance for more information on how best practice is shared with parents. If staff have any concerns about the preparation of food from either source they should raise this with their Nursery Management Team, who will escalate with the relevant parties.
Responding to Choking Incidents
Over 90% of Hopscotch staff are Paediatric First Aid trained, and response to choking is a key component of that training. If first aid is required (such as back blows or abdominal thrusts):
Parents/carers are notified via an accident form on Famly, which they are required to acknowledge.
The incident is recorded within Famly and logged in our internal incident tracker.
Records of choking incidents are periodically reviewed by senior management through Famly reports and the internal incident tracker to identify patterns and take action to reduce future risks.
Parents are advised to seek medical attention to ensure no internal injuries have occurred.
Ofsted is notified in accordance with statutory requirements.
Working with Parents
We are committed to supporting parents in understanding safe food preparation and identifying common choking hazards. We share information and educational materials via Famly and email throughout the year. These resources are designed to raise awareness of best practice for food safety at home.
Serving Food
Only permanent members of Hopscotch staff should serve food to children, preferably they should always be qualified (where possible) or regularly working with the child or children. Bank staff or staff who are still on their probationary period are not permitted to serve food to children and should find other tasks at mealtimes.
All precautions will be taken at every opportunity to minimise the risk of any allergic reaction occurring to children with known allergies whilst attending nursery.
Hopscotch aims to be a nut-free nursery and we have assurances from our supplier Little Tums that all the meals they provide to us are certified as nut-free. They are frequently audited and verified on this assertion. This means that children with nut allergies can safely eat any of the Little Tums meal options provided to Hopscotch.
We also do not accept nut products from entering the nursery in packed lunches and we ensure that any products which might contain nuts are not used at any other time at nursery.
The Hopscotch FSMS contains comprehensive and meticulous procedures about allergy management protocol at Hopscotch nurseries. These include offering pre-agreed meal options from our catering supplier, the implementation of medical condition and allergy boards in each setting and guidance about how allergen containing foods are managed at our sites.
Children with known allergies must also have an agreed Health Care Plan in place, which is to be referred to and followed in case of any kind of allergic reaction taking place whilst attending nursery. Further information on our allergy management protocol is available in the Hopscotch FSMS.
Only permanent members of Hopscotch staff should serve food to children, preferably they should always be qualified (where possible) or regularly working with the child or children. Bank staff are not permitted to serve food to children and should find other tasks at mealtimes.
One of the simplest and most effective ways to mitigate risk associated with allergies is for room teams to have at daily ‘huddles’ at least once a day. Full and relevant allergy information about the children should be shared. These should be led by a Lead Practitioner or a suitably qualified deputy in their absence. Staff should confirm they have heard and understood the information which has been shared.
For children with extreme allergies, i.e. require an epi-pen, they will be required to use red plates and cups throughout each snack and meal time. For children with dietary preferences, they will be required to use green plates and cups throughout each snack and meal time. This is an extra check to ensure those at the highest risk from an allergic reaction have another protective measure in place to protect them.
The Nursery Management Team is responsible for the effective implementation of all food safety and allergy management systems in their setting. Lead Practitioners will be responsible and accountable for the implementation of these measures in their respective rooms.
The Nursery Management Team should always be making suitability assessments about appropriateness and suitability of staff to serve food at snack and mealtimes.
Nursery Managers should ensure that staff are frequently reminded of their duties and responsibilities to properly implement food safety and allergy management policies and procedures at all times and should undertake frequent supervisions in order to check this is the case. Nursery Managers should remind staff of these protocol after any period of time off and particularly after an extended period i.e. Christmas closure, summer holiday or period of unplanned absence or leave.
Nursery Managers may also implement other complimentary measures in their setting i.e. personalised place mats as they choose, as long as the fundamentals of the FSMS and this policy are adhered to.
Hot Drinks
Hopscotch operates a cold drink only policy due to serious risks from scalding children with hot drinks. Only cold drinks should be consumed in any nursery room and any other areas where children are present or have access to.
Hot drinks may be consumed in lunch breaks and before and after shifts in the staff room or kitchen.
Staff Food
Staff may bring food into nursery premises for their own consumption. Any foods brought in should be mindful of Hopscotch food safety procedures i.e. no nut based or nut containing foods are permitted. Staff should bring food in secure packaging and ensure they store their food in appropriate areas of the nursery kitchen which are permitted for staff use. The Nursery Management Team is responsible for assigning and monitoring these areas. Food which has clearly not been used for an extended period of time will be thrown away.
Food orders from takeaway outlets made by staff to the nursery is at the discretion of the Nursery Management Team. Staff should always be mindful of the potential impact on parent partnership and the Hopscotch brand and reputation. Staff should always be aware of Hopscotch food safety procedures i.e. not nut based or nut containing foods are permitted.
Food should always be eaten by staff in appropriate areas of the nursery which have been designated by the Nursery Management Team.