Policy & Procedure No.15
1. At Millfield Pre-school (MPS) we ensure that all children are involved in preparing, serving and cleaning away at snack time.
2. We encourage the children to have good hygiene and independence.
3. The practitioners at MPS understand the children’s dietary needs and cater for individuals.
4. The children are offered both nutritious snacks and a variety of tastes and cultures.
5. When we talk about celebrations, we refer to festivals relevant to different cultures and beliefs, children’s personal achievements, family celebrations (e.g. new baby) and celebrations within MPS and the wider community.
6. We do this by:
a. Providing a water fountain for 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 half way 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 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 hygiene.
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 all together. This is usually referred to in the planning. We may decide to have snack all together due to the children making 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.
7. When choosing which celebrations to celebrate, we listen to the children to see what they talk about, so we can celebrate occasions they are familiar with. Then, throughout the year we look at festivals celebrated in other countries.