Food & Mealtimes
Wholesome food, shared together
Food is an important part of every day at Dottie Tots. We want each mealtime to feel warm, relaxed and welcoming, with children and adults sitting together around the table to share food and conversation.
Eating together helps babies, toddlers and young children develop confidence, independence and positive relationships with food. It also creates valuable opportunities to practise social skills and discover new tastes and textures in a calm and supportive environment.
Freshly prepared, nourishing meals
Meals at both our Bentley and Kingsley nurseries will be freshly prepared using carefully selected ingredients, sourced locally where practical.
Our varied menus include meat and plant-based dishes and are thoughtfully planned to offer a healthy balance of fruit and vegetables, starchy foods, protein, and dairy foods or suitable alternatives.
We follow the Department for Education’s early-years nutrition guidance and use the principles of the Eatwell Guide for children aged two and over. As the Eatwell Guide is not designed for children under two, meals for our youngest children are adapted to reflect their different nutritional and developmental needs.
We limit added sugar and salt and aim to use simple, wholesome ingredients. Our menus introduce children to a broad variety of flavours, colours and textures while providing the nourishment and energy they need to grow, learn and play.
Babies and weaning
We work closely with parents and carers throughout each baby’s weaning journey. Meals, portion sizes and textures are adapted to each child’s age, stage of development and individual feeding needs.
We support babies as they progress through different textures and begin to explore finger foods, helping them develop confidence and independence at a pace that is right for them.
Allergies and individual dietary needs
Children’s safety is always our priority. Parents and carers must tell us about any food allergies, intolerances, medical dietary requirements, religious requirements or other individual needs before their child starts and whenever their needs change.
We work closely with families to understand each child’s requirements and complete an individual assessment where necessary. We will always explore reasonable adaptations, although any dietary arrangement must first be agreed with the nursery to ensure it can be managed safely.
We do not use nuts as an ingredient in food prepared by the nursery. However, some products may be made in environments where nuts or other allergens are handled. We therefore cannot guarantee that our food or nursery environments are completely free from traces of nuts or other allergens.
Our menus are shared with parents and carers and include information about the allergens contained in each dish. If your child has an allergy or complex dietary requirement, please speak with the nursery manager so that appropriate arrangements can be discussed and agreed.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served each morning until 8.15am. Our selection varies and may include lower-sugar cereals, wholemeal toast, fruit and milk.
Children begin their day in a calm and sociable environment, enjoying breakfast together with their friends and familiar adults.
Lunch
At both Bentley and Kingsley, children and adults enjoy a freshly prepared, two-course hot lunch together at approximately 11.30am.
Lunch is served in small groups, allowing children plenty of time to enjoy their food, talk with others and develop their independence.
Tea
Our varied tea menu is served at approximately 4pm at both nurseries. Tea provides another relaxed opportunity for children and adults to eat together and explore a variety of nourishing foods, flavours and textures.
Safe and positive mealtimes
Food is prepared and served in a way that is appropriate for each child’s age and stage of development. Textures and food shapes are adapted where necessary, and babies and young children are seated safely and supervised closely throughout every meal and snack.
Children are gently encouraged to explore unfamiliar foods, but they are never pressured to eat. Our aim is to make mealtimes enjoyable and help every child develop a healthy, confident and positive relationship with food.
Food hygiene
Both our Bentley and Kingsley nurseries currently hold a Food Hygiene Rating of 5. Team members involved in preparing and serving food receive appropriate food hygiene, allergy-awareness and safer-eating training.
Menus may occasionally change due to seasonal or ingredient availability. Current menus and allergen information are shared with families, and our nursery managers are always happy to answer questions about our meals and food provision.
