Rainbows @ St Silas is committed to healthy eating, and we provide a well-balanced, healthy menu for all our children. Hot meals are freshly cooked in the school kitchen, and healthy snacks are prepared in the Rainbows kitchen by Rainbows staff who have all undertaken Food Hygiene training.  The snack and tea menu has been developed by a nutritionist in line with Early Years nutritional guidelines.

• Breakfast is served for children between 8.00am-9:00am which is a choice of cereals and/or toast.
• Lunch of a main meal and healthy dessert is provided at approximately 11.45 am.
• Afternoon Tea is provided at around 3.30pm.
• Vegetarian options are available at every meal and we can cater for the majority of special dietary requirements.
• The menus operate in 4-week rotation but are changed to reflect the seasons of the year and the diverse culture we live in.
• All children will be provided with fresh drinking water throughout the day in individual water bottles or cups.
• Snacks which usually consists of fruit, breadsticks, rice cakes or other finger food along with a choice of milk or water are provided daily during the morning and afternoon session.
• All meat on the hot lunch menu is Halal with exception of afternoon tea.
• For babies, solid food is prepared to suit the individual needs of each child. Food from the standard nursery menu is blended to a consistency appropriate for the child’s age and stage. We also cater for Baby Led Weaning.
• For bottle fed babies, parents are asked to provide clearly labelled bottles and formula or expressed breast milk.
• No salt is added to food as it is cooked or after it is served
• Staff are aware of any food allergies or special dietary requirements children in their care may have.

*ALLERGEN AWARENESS:  Please ask a member of staff for our recipe and allergy information

As well as being important nutritionally, mealtimes are also a time when children learn new social skills, develop their independence and encounter new language.  We promote manners by modelling and having high expectations for our children, from an early age.

Parents can find some information about how to improve on their family’s nutrition at Change for Life https://www.nhs.uk/change4life

Recently, we have been fortunate for one of our team to be selected for the first cohort of the PANCo (Physical Activity and Nutritional Coordinator) Award training  This is an award that is already developing our nutritional and physical activity standards in terms of the children’s focused snacks and awareness of personal hygiene as well as development of physical activity.