Policy and Procedure No.39
Meals, Snacks and Celebrations
- At Millfield Pre-school (MPS) we ensure that all children are involved in preparing, serving, and cleaning away at snack time.
- We encourage the children to have high standards of hygiene and independence.
- The practitioners at MPS understand the children’s dietary needs and cater for individuals. Please notify MPS of any allergies or intolerances half termly on record sheets.
- The children are offered both nutritious snacks and a variety of tastes and cultures.
- When we talk about celebrations, we refer to festivals relevant to different cultures and beliefs, children’s personal achievements, family celebrations (new baby etc) and celebrations within MPS and the wider community.
- We do this by:
a. Provision of a water fountain for the children at all times.
b. Offering a snack bar to the children. This encourages the children to choose when they would like to have their snack. The snack bar is open from halfway through the session and will remain open until all children have had the opportunity to participate. During the summer months staff ensure all children take extra fluids to maintain hydration.
c. Before coming for their snack, children wash and dry their hands.
d. An adult at the table also encourages the children to talk about what they eat at home and encourages the children to talk about what they feel are good manners and puts this into practice (the practitioners understand that different cultures’ habits/manners vary in different ways).
e. The children are encouraged to help tidy up before and after snack, so they begin to form an understanding of good hygiene routines.
f. During times of celebration, we alter the snack where appropriate.
g. We celebrate a wide variety of festivals and different celebrations the children may have. We avoid tokenism.
h. When we feel it is right, we also have snack together. This is usually referred to in the planning. We may decide to have snack all together if the children have made their own snack or celebration.
i. The adult who is at the table with the children will monitor/record whether the children have snack, and/or a drink.
j. The children have their snack around a table sitting on a chair. The children are encouraged to remain seated while they drink and eat their snack.
k. If a child has individual needs, the practitioners will talk about anything they may be celebrating at home with their family. This is carried out throughout the session, particularly at group time so the children can share their news with their friends.
- When choosing celebrations to recognise, we listen to the children to discover their experiences to ensure we celebrate occasions they are familiar with. Then throughout the year we look at festivals celebrated in other countries.
- Whilst children are eating there will always be a member of staff in the room with a valid paediatric first aid certificate.
- All food provided for snack by Millfield Pre-School will be prepared in a way to prevent choking. See overleaf.
- Children will always be within sight and hearing of a staff member whilst eating and where possible facing the staff member to allow visual checks.
Signed: Clara Hall- Chairperson
Signed: Tegan Kidman- Lead Practitioner/Manager.
Reviewed: 11 February 2026.
Review: 11 February 2027.