Providing lunch for children

[bubblejack]

We are a sessional pre-school but some children stay all day. Parents provide a packed lunch. There is a lot of food wasted.This year we had our party in the afternoon. In the morning we took the children to the shops to choose the food. The children made sandwiches, iced biscuits, helped to cut up the fruit. We were

amazed how well the children ate. Do you have to jump through hoops to provide

this service every day. I would either have to charge a small amount to cover or increase fees.I am already registered with environmental health.

[Stargrower]

We collect a hot lunch from our local primary school each day and charge the same as the school. Parents can choose this or provide a packed lunch.

Edited December 19, 2014 by Stargrower

[Inge]

I think you would still have to give parents the option to supply own lunches , so it would all depend on take up. cost involved, time to produce the lunches. against the parents supplying .

We always returned uneaten food in lunch boxes so parents knew how much had been eaten ............ or not...

[bubblejack]

Yes I would give the choice.. I have many parents that put in pre-packet lunchables or buy sausage roll from bakers. I send it back but they still keep sending them in. I have others that forget lunch and have to go back for them. Children would make their own sandwich . I would then not have to worry about parents forgetting to put ice pack in box. I just wondered if there we any rules and regs regarding making food.

[Foreveryoung]

We sent out a survey asking if parents wanted the option to have hot meal provided by local school at a cost of £.... Surprisingly not one parent wanted it I think possibly as we are sessional we mainly cater for free childcare and parents opt to pay for the lunch club so to add on the cost of the hot meal might make it too much for most of our families. I suppose a survey would be the best start to seeing if there is a demand for it x

[Stargrower]

Why do you send the sausage rolls and Lunchables back? Is it because the children don't want them?

[bubblejack]

Yes the children eat very little of them.I send most of the pack back in the hope that parents will see that the child has not eaten them.

Saying that I have quite a few children that don't eat their sandwiches but because they made them themselves before our party they ate them. I don't want to provide hot meals but I want to provide food for children to make their own sandwiches to eat at lunchtime. Does anyone know if we are allowed to do that.I am not looking to make a profit from doing it.I am sure I can do it for less than the cost of parents buying ready made lunch food, which is often wasted.

Edited December 20, 2014 by bubblejack

[BedfordBoroughNicolaM]

^{I think this sounds like a great idea- fantastic way of promoting healthy eating. Also, recent Ofsted inspections in our local authority have frequently concentrated on supporting children's independence so this would be another benefit.}

^{Talk to your local authority for advice around charging, but as long as you all have food hygiene, I can't see a problem.}

^{Good Luck}

[bubblejack]

Thanks for advice. Something to look forward to in the new year.

[MarshaD]

We collect a hot lunch from our local primary school each day and charge the same as the school. Parents can choose this or provide a packed lunch.

Hi I had thought about this - does it work the same now with universal free school meals for KS1?

[Stargrower]

No unfortunately not. I looked into this but as nursery is not statutory, children are not entitled to free school meals.