Cleaning Policy

Cleanliness of the setting The setting is cleaned regularly by contract cleaners employed by the landlord. Staff clean as necessary during each session and at the end of day to maintain a good standard of hygiene and replenish any hand wash soap, disposable hand towels, and toilet paper as needed. Cleaning products will not be accessible to children and will be kept in their original containers. A Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) risk assessment will be carried out to ensure safety. Cleanliness and Safety of Equipment All equipment/resources owned by Whytebeams are checked, cleaned and undergo a risk assessment on a regular basis. All dressing up clothes and fabrics, cushion covers are checked before use and washed as appropriate. They are also washed termly and if necessary, in between. All resources to be used in the setting are checked for suitability & safety. All tables are cleaned daily, before and after lunch and as appropriate during the session with antibacterial spray to prevent cross infection. Extra cleaning measures are put in place when needed for example in a pandemic. Staff complete a twice daily risk assessment which includes cleanliness. All equipment is checked and washed regularly with a complete inventory and thorough clean carried out at the end of the summer term. Food Hygiene – Whytebeams are registered with Food Standard Agency At least one member of staff will hold a current food hygiene certificate and train others. All staff have an induction and training in regard to good practice of food hygiene standards. Good hygiene standards are maintained when preparing snack and in food related activities. 62 WHYTEBEAMS NURSERY All crockery, utensils and surfaces are cleaned daily by the staff of Whytebeams after use and replaced when needed. Food preparation and storage We do not prepare hot meals for children but may run food based/cooking activities. Staff will prepare snacks on the correct surfaces using the separate chopping boards as needed Staff will maintain good hygiene standards, washing their hands before food preparation, wear gloves and maintain clean preparation areas. Staff will clean the eating areas with antibacterial spray before the children sit down to eat. Staff will display prepared food in a way that encourages the children to eat it. Food will be stored correctly and appropriately and expiry dates will be checked before use. Food storage areas will be kept clean and well maintained. All used towels, tea towels and dish cloths are washed daily. Fresh fruit and vegetables are washed before use. Fresh milk is kept refrigerated at the appropriate temperature. Lunch boxes are stored on the lunch trolley until lunch time and should be kept in the rear storage area before and after lunch. Parents are advised to pack ice coolers in their child’s lunch box. Lunchtime Children who stay for lunch on a Monday, Tuesday and/or Thursday are required to bring a packed lunch from home, which will be stored on the lunch trolley until lunchtime. Encouragement is given to parents to provide a healthy lunch box and we advise parents to put an ice pack in the lunch box to keep it cool. Parents are requested to cut in half grapes, cherry tomatoes, olives etc. to avoid the risk of choking. We do not heat or reheat any food for children. Staff may use the kitchen facilities to store and heat their own lunch and they are responsible for reheating food to the correct temperature. Lunch Routine After washing hands, children are encouraged to find their own lunch box, under adult supervision. Children sit at tables in the hall where adults join them close by. Once everyone is seated the children are told they can open their lunch boxes to ensure correct supervision. Lunch begins around 12.30pm. Children will be encouraged to eat their sandwiches/savouries first, followed by yoghurt and/or fruit. Sweet things and biscuits are left till last to promote health eating and balance. Children are encouraged to drink water which parents provide in a reusable bottle for use throughout the day. No other drinks are required and sugary or fizzy drinks are not permitted. We will provide tap water should parents forget to provide it. Once children are finished eating and by 1pm they are asked to pack away their lunchbox and wait to be called table by table to put away their lunch box and water bottle. Once children have put away their belongings and washed their hands if needed, they sit for a story time with an adults before returning to free flow play. 63 WHYTEBEAMS NURSERY Children are encouraged to do as much as possible for themselves and take responsibility for their belongings with adult support. This aids independence and confidence. Any uneaten food will be returned to the lunch box where appropriate so parents can see what has been eaten. We aim to finish by 1.15pm to allow setting up for the afternoon’s activities. The children are encouraged to stay seated throughout the lunch period, primarily for their safety and good table manners are encouraged. Conversation is also encouraged, between staff and children but must be at a low volume for safety. Lunchtime is looked at as a social activity for both children and staff and should be enjoyed by all. Recommended Healthy Food and drinks Fresh, homemade food with little processing is advised with a good balance of carbohydrates, fruit, vegetables, protein, or dairy. We suggest no more than 5 varied items in the lunchbox to allow better focus and balance. For example – sandwich with butter and ham, tangerine, yogurt, breadsticks and hummus. Other ideas include - sandwiches, rolls, crackers, pitta, breadsticks or rice cakes, cheese, cold meats or pasta, salad, vegetable sticks, dips or hummus, fruit, yoghurt. Water or milk to drink. PLEASE DO NOT PACK NUTS or any nut based product (e.g.: peanut/nut butter, Nutella or equivalent, nut based cereal bars or cakes) Due to the risk of allergies and anaphylaxis, nuts are a health and safety hazard and we will remove them from children’s lunch boxes. CHOCOLATE – We have a duty to promote healthy eating and ask that you do not pack chocolate, however chocolate covered biscuits are allowed, alongside other healthy options. FIZZY DRINKS – Fizzy drinks are not permitted in lunchboxes and will be removed. Any items we remove will be returned to parents and carers at the end of day. Lunchbox and Water Bottle Hygiene and Labelling We ask that parents regularly clean the inside and outside of lunchboxes and water bottles and provide an ice pack as lunch boxes are not refrigerated. Lunchboxes MUST be clearly named on the outside. Children cannot always identify their lunchbox and staff must check the right child has the right lunch for safety reason and the risk of allergies. SNACK TIME POLICY Whytebeams promotes healthy, balanced, nutritious snack and drinks. Snack time is a group social event where children are encouraged to pause, hydrate and chat to their peers. Snack takes place mid-morning at 10.15-10.30 for about 30 minutes and is followed by a learning activity linked to our theme. Staff ring a bell alerting children that it’s time for snack. Children line up and are taken to the toilet to wash their hands. Children then find their water bottle and sit for snack where they choose their fruit or vegetables Children chat to their friends and adult helpers while enjoying their refreshments 64 WHYTEBEAMS NURSERY When they have finished, they put their water bottles back and sit for a learning activity. An allergy list will be adhered to and closely monitored. Healthy Eating Healthy options for snacks will be provided, these may include bread sticks, fruit and raw vegetables. Children have free access to their water bottles and staff will top them up as required. Cooking Activities The staff member carrying out the ‘cooking’ activity will be responsible for the cleaning of all equipment used and also for giving instructions to the children regarding hand washing, hygiene and using equipment safely. Children will not be allowed access to the kitchen or cooker. Staff will also check children’s names against our allergy and food requirements list. Children with special dietary requirements will be included safely with alternative food or ingredients, where possible.