When your child stays with us, we will provide healthy, fresh meals and snacks throughout the day, all included within the nursery fees. Every day we serve:
- Breakfast, which is available from 8.00am to 8.45am
- A mid-morning snack of fresh fruit or vegetables
- A full cooked lunch
- A mid-afternoon snack of fresh fruit or vegetables
- Light tea
Water and milk are offered with each meal, and fresh water is available throughout the day in every room.
What are mealtimes like?
Our mealtimes are designed to provide a relaxed, social experience for your child. Staff sit with the children in small groups, encouraging and modelling self-help skills and ‘good eating’. The children are encouraged to be independent throughout mealtimes in every room, according to their age and stage of development. From beginning to use a spoon independently in the baby unit, to self-service snack times, food preparation and cooking in the preschool.
We often have parents who are concerned that their child is a ‘fussy eater’ and we will work with you and your child if this is the case. We do not allow children’s own food to be brought into the nursery, but prefer to encourage and support children with positivity to try the food available. We often find that children are more willing to try new foods when with a group of their peers and have had many success stories.
Food hygiene
We are very proud to have a level 5 food hygiene rating and hold the Soil Association's 'Food For Life' award. All of our meals are freshly cooked each day in the University's on-site kitchens.
Dietary requirements
All dietary requirements are catered for. If your child is weaning, our staff can offer advice and work with you to support you whichever approach you choose to take. If you have any questions regarding your child's dietary needs, please feel free to contact us on 01782 294981 or at nursery@staffs.ac.uk.
Menus
To broaden your child's experiences, we serve a variety of food from our menus that operate on a four-week rota. The specific menus will be shared with you when your child enrols with the nursery, but we have included the following example:
Example menu
| Breakfast, served between 8.00am and 8.45am |
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A variety of cereal i.e. Cornflakes, Weetabix, porridge, Bran flakes, Rice Krispies.
Wholemeal toast and fresh fruit.
Water, locally sourced milk.
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| Mid-morning snack |
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Seasonal fresh fruit and vegetable snack.
Water, locally sourced milk.
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| Lunch |
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| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
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Tuna/cheese and vegetable pasta bake with freshly made white sauce.
Seasonal vegetables – peas, sweetcorn and green beans.
Garlic bread.
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Jacket potato with choice of fillings: cheese and chives, baked beans, chicken mayo, coleslaw, sliced tomatoes, cucumber, rocket/lettuce.
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Chicken korma.
Potato and spinach korma.
Basmati rice.
Chickpeas and broccoli.
Naan bread.
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Roast beef.
Quorn fillet.
Mashed potatoes.
Seasonal vegetables – cabbage, swede and carrots.
Gravy.
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Chicken/Quorn and vegetable hotpot.
Seasonal vegetables – carrots, cauliflower.
Crusty bread.
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| Fresh fruit/fromage frais. |
| Mid-afternoon snack |
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Seasonal fresh fruit and vegetable snack
Water, locally sourced milk
|
| Light tea, served between 3.45pm and 4.15pm |
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| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
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| Crackers with a variety of dips i.e. hummus, guacamole, tzatziki, sliced cucumber and fresh tomatoes. |
Vegetable pasta salad and grated cheese. |
Wholemeal wraps with tuna/cheese/salad fillings. |
Wholemeal toast and spaghetti hoops/fresh tomatoes. |
Wholemeal free – range egg/salmon sandwiches, salad. |
| Water, locally sourced milk. |