At Rainbow Early Years, we understand the important role that healthy eating plays in young children's growth, development, wellbeing and learning. We believe that mealtimes should be a positive, social and enjoyable part of the preschool day, while also helping children to develop healthy attitudes towards food from an early age.

Our optional food programme is planned specifically for young children and follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework and the Department for Education's Early Years Foundation Stage Nutrition Guidance. Where food and drinks are provided, the EYFS requires these to be healthy, balanced and nutritious.

We plan our menus around the nutritional needs of young children and aim to provide a varied range of foods, flavours, textures and ingredients across the week.

What We Offer

Our optional food programme includes:

Morning Snack – £1.00
A healthy, varied snack designed to provide children with energy and nutrients between meals. Snacks may include fresh fruit and vegetables, suitable dairy or dairy-free alternatives, and other nutritious options.

Hot Lunch – £3.00
A freshly prepared, balanced hot meal containing a variety of food groups. Our menus include vegetables and fruit, starchy foods and suitable sources of protein, with meals planned to provide variety across the week.

Pudding & Fruit
Where appropriate, lunch is accompanied by a nutritious pudding and fruit. We aim to keep added and free sugars low and avoid using food as a reward.

Drinks
Fresh drinking water is available to children throughout the day. We also provide a range of suitable milk options to meet individual dietary needs, including lactose-free and oat milk, with other alternatives considered where appropriate.

Our Approach to Healthy Eating

Our menus are planned with current UK dietary recommendations for young children in mind. We aim to:

• Provide a wide variety of fruit and vegetables across the week.

• Include a range of starchy foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta, bread and other suitable grains.

• Offer a variety of protein sources, including meat, fish, eggs, beans and pulses where appropriate.

• Include suitable dairy foods or alternatives to support children's nutritional needs.

• Include fish as part of a varied diet, including oily fish where appropriate.

• Keep foods high in saturated fat, salt and free sugars to a minimum.

• Avoid adding salt to children's meals.

• Avoid sugar-sweetened drinks.

• Encourage children to explore different tastes, textures, colours and foods.

• Offer unfamiliar foods repeatedly and without pressure, recognising that children may need several opportunities to become familiar with a new food.

• Provide age-appropriate portions and textures, taking account of individual children's needs and development.

• Consider dietary, cultural, religious and medical requirements when planning meals.

Wherever possible, our meals are prepared dairy-free as part of our inclusive approach to food provision. Where a recipe cannot be made dairy-free without compromising the meal, we consider suitable alternatives based on individual children's dietary requirements.

We also provide halal and vegetarian options where required, ensuring children can participate fully in mealtimes alongside their peers.

We believe children should be encouraged to try and explore food, but never pressured to eat something they do not want. Mealtimes are an opportunity to develop independence, communication and social skills as children eat together and talk about the food they are enjoying.

Allergies, Dietary Requirements & Individual Needs

We take food allergies, intolerances, cultural and religious dietary requirements seriously.

Parents and carers are asked to provide us with accurate and up-to-date information about their child's dietary requirements. We work closely with families to make appropriate adjustments to meals and snacks wherever possible.

Our food provision can accommodate a range of dietary requirements, including dairy-free, lactose-free, vegetarian and halal options, with suitable alternatives discussed and provided where necessary.

We also offer alternative milk options, including oat milk and lactose-free milk, and can consider other appropriate alternatives where required. Almond milk is available where appropriate and where this is safe and suitable for the individual child.

Allergen information is maintained for the foods we provide, and our food provision follows appropriate food safety and allergy-management procedures.

Our Kitchen & Food Hygiene

All of our meals and snacks are prepared, cooked and served from our own preschool kitchen. This allows us to maintain close oversight of the food preparation process, from ingredients and preparation through to serving.

Staff involved in food preparation and service have relevant and appropriate food hygiene training, alongside the knowledge and procedures needed to safely prepare and serve food to young children.

We take food safety, cleanliness and hygiene extremely seriously. Rainbow Early Years currently holds a 5-star food hygiene rating, reflecting our commitment to maintaining high standards of food hygiene and safety.

Our food hygiene practices are reviewed regularly, and we ensure that staff maintain the knowledge and training required for their responsibilities.

Packed Lunches

Our food programme is optional, and families who choose not to use the programme are welcome to provide a packed lunch for their child.

We encourage families to provide a balanced, nutritious packed lunch that complements the healthy eating approach we promote at preschool. We are happy to work with families where a child has particular dietary requirements or needs.

Food & Learning

Food is not simply something we provide at mealtimes. It forms part of children's wider learning and development.

Through our food provision and everyday experiences, children have opportunities to develop:

Physical Development
Nutritious food supports children's growth, physical development and energy for active play and learning.

Communication & Language
Mealtimes provide opportunities for children to talk, listen, learn new vocabulary and communicate their preferences.

Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Eating together helps children develop independence, confidence, social skills and positive relationships with food.

Understanding the World
Children can explore where food comes from, seasonal produce, different cultures and how food is grown and prepared.

Mathematics
Everyday experiences such as counting fruit, sharing portions, comparing quantities and using cups and utensils provide natural opportunities for mathematical learning.

Our Menu

Our menu is planned on a rotating basis to provide children with variety and a balanced range of foods across the week.

Morning snack: £1.00
Hot lunch: £3.00

Menus may occasionally change because of seasonal availability, supplier availability or individual dietary requirements. Where a change is necessary, we will provide a suitable alternative wherever possible.

Food Charges & Funded Hours

Government-funded early education and childcare hours cover the cost of providing eligible funded childcare hours. Government funding does not cover the cost of meals and snacks.

At Rainbow Early Years, our food programme is therefore an optional chargeable service. The cost is £1.00 for morning snack and £3.00 for a hot meal, including pudding and fruit where provided.

Choosing not to pay for our food programme will not affect your child's access to their funded early education and childcare place. Families who choose not to use the food programme are welcome to provide a suitable packed lunch and/or snack for their child.

Food charges are shown separately from funded childcare hours on invoices and records, so that families can clearly see which costs relate to their child's funded entitlement and which relate to optional food provision.

Our Commitment

At Rainbow Early Years, we want children to develop a positive relationship with food that can support them well beyond their preschool years.

We provide nutritious food in a relaxed and welcoming environment, encourage children to explore a variety of foods without pressure, and work in partnership with families to support children's health, wellbeing and development.

From our own preschool kitchen, through to the preparation and serving of every meal, we take pride in providing food that is safe, nutritious, inclusive and enjoyable for young children.

Our food provision is reviewed regularly to ensure that it continues to reflect current early years nutrition guidance, food safety requirements and the needs of the children attending Rainbow Early Years.