Food Safety Policy

Policy on food, allergies and cultural restrictions

POur Commitment

Truly Scrumptious Early Years Nursery is committed to maintaining the highest standards of food hygiene and safety in line with statutory requirements and best practices. We are proud to have achieved and maintained a 5-star food hygiene rating at both our Ongar and Romford settings, as awarded by Environmental Health inspections.

We adhere to the guidance set out in the Food Standards Agency’s “Safer Food, Better Business” toolkit and ensure that all food safety procedures are fully embedded in our day-to-day operations.

Food Handling, Preparation, and Hygiene

We ensure all staff involved in food handling and preparation follow strict hygiene protocols, including:

Staff exhibiting signs of illness are prohibited from handling food.
All food preparation surfaces are cleaned before and after use with antibacterial spray and disposable cloths.
Colour-coded chopping boards are used correctly (e.g., red for raw meat) to prevent cross-contamination.
Chopping boards, utensils, and equipment are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each use.
Hand hygiene is strictly observed — staff wash hands with antibacterial soap and warm water before and after food preparation, after toilet use, and after changing nappies.
No jewellery (except plain wedding bands), nail polish, or artificial nails are permitted during food handling.
Cuts or sores are covered with a blue waterproof dressing.
Staff wear appropriate PPE: hair nets, aprons, gloves, and closed-toe shoes.
Food Hygiene training certificates are held by all relevant staff and regularly renewed.

Cleaning Procedures

Fridge and Freezer Maintenance:

Fridges are cleaned weekly: all shelves, drawers, and seals are washed with warm soapy water and disinfectant.
All items are checked for expiry dates; out-of-date items are discarded appropriately.
Freezers (non-frost-free) are defrosted and deep cleaned monthly.
Fridge temperatures are checked daily and logged to ensure food is stored safely.

General Kitchen Cleaning:

Worktops and food contact surfaces are cleaned before and after each use.
Kitchen waste is disposed of promptly and hygienically.

Healthy Eating and Nutrition

At Truly Scrumptious, we believe that a healthy, balanced diet is essential for a child’s physical and emotional development.

We promote positive food experiences and educate children on the importance of nutritious meals.
Children are provided with healthy, balanced snacks and meals appropriate to their age and dietary needs.
Fresh drinking water is available to children throughout the day.
Cultural, religious, ethical, and medical dietary requirements are always respected and accommodated.
Multicultural foods are included to ensure all children feel represented and to encourage an appreciation of global diets.

Parents are asked to inform us of any dietary requirements during registration. Where dietary preferences are based on non-medical needs, parents may be asked to supply suitable alternatives in sealed, labelled packaging.

Food Allergy and Intolerance Management

We take food allergies and intolerances extremely seriously and have comprehensive systems in place to manage risk:

Allergy information is collected during registration and updated regularly.
Individual care plans are created for children with food allergies/intolerances.
Clear visual indicators such as:
- Red plates/cups
- Allergy placemats with child’s name and restriction
- Toothpick flags for dietary needs (e.g., vegan, halal, nut-free)

Staff training includes:

Recognising signs of allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
Administering emergency medication (e.g., EpiPen)
Reading food labels for allergens
Cross-contamination prevention

Food allergen risk assessments and policies are reviewed regularly, and all allergy-related documentation is securely stored and accessible.

Safe Food Storage and Temperature Control

To prevent contamination and ensure food quality, we follow strict storage guidelines:

Fridge temperatures are monitored daily and maintained at or below 5°C.
Freezers are maintained at -18°C or lower.
Dry foods are stored in cool, dry, pest-free areas in sealed containers.
Cooked and raw foods are stored separately.
All food is labelled and dated upon receipt and opening.

Feeding Babies and Weaning Guidelines

We work closely with parents to support safe, responsive feeding routines for infants, including baby-led weaning.

Questions we ask parents:

Have lumps been introduced at home?
Is your child following baby-led weaning or spoon-feeding?
What foods have already been introduced?

Safety measures for infant feeding:

Babies are always seated upright and supervised while eating.
Avoid choking hazards:
- Round, hard, or sticky foods (e.g., whole grapes) are cut lengthwise or omitted.
- Cylindrical foods are cut into strips.
- Meats are sliced across the grain and into small pieces.
- No foods larger than half an inch in any direction.
Commercial white bread is limited to avoid “pasty globs”.
Only a few pieces of food are served at a time to prevent overloading.
Children are not rushed — we allow adequate time for relaxed feeding.

Monitoring and Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or in response to:

Changes in food safety legislation
Updates from the Food Standards Agency (FSA)
Environmental Health inspection outcomes
Parent or staff feedback
New allergen advice or best practice guidance

Staff are encouraged to report any concerns or suggestions for improvement. We welcome contributions from parents and carers in keeping this policy effective and up to date.

Approved by: Nursery Management and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Policy Reviewed by Brittany V – Manager – 22/05/2025