Food in Play Policy

At Wise Owls Childcare, we recognise the significant learning opportunities that sensory and exploratory play with food can provide. Food-based experiences can support children’s curiosity, creativity, communication, fine motor development, problem-solving skills, and understanding of the world.

We also recognise our responsibility to promote children’s health, safety and wellbeing, while modelling respect for food as a valuable resource. Food play must therefore be purposeful, carefully planned and appropriately risk assessed, with consideration given to allergens, dietary requirements, hygiene and food waste.

Aims

We aim to:

Provide meaningful sensory and exploratory learning opportunities for all children
Ensure all food play is safe, inclusive and appropriately supervised
Minimise risks associated with allergens, dietary requirements and choking
Promote responsible use of food resources and reduce unnecessary waste
Ensure food play has a clear educational purpose and supports children’s learning and development
Maintain appropriate hygiene and infection control standards

Principles

Food may be used as a play resource when there is a clear educational purpose and the benefits to children’s learning outweigh any potential risk.

Staff should consider whether similar learning outcomes could be achieved using non-food materials before choosing food-based resources. Where food is used, it should be done thoughtfully, proportionately and in a way that models respect for food and responsible use of resources.

All food play activities must:

Be appropriately risk assessed
Consider the age, stage and individual needs of the children involved
Take account of known allergies, intolerances, cultural requirements and dietary needs, with relevant information checked before the activity is planned and again immediately before it takes place
Use food products only where ingredients and allergen information can be clearly identified and checked
Consider potential choking and other safety hazards
Be inclusive and accessible to all participating children
Have appropriate arrangements for preparation, storage, cleaning and disposal
Be supervised throughout
Use food resources responsibly and minimise unnecessary food waste

Staff should use professional judgement when responding to children’s emerging interests and should not introduce food into play without considering its educational value and associated risks.

Allergies, Dietary Requirements and Hygiene

The setting maintains up-to-date records of children’s allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements. Staff must check relevant information before planning or carrying out food play activities.

Food used for play must:

Exclude nuts and nut-based products
Exclude any ingredients known to pose a risk to children participating in, or likely to come into contact with the activity, including through direct contact, inhalation or airborne exposure
Consider the additional risks associated with powdered or airborne food materials, such as flour, with suitable alternative resources used where appropriate
Be prepared, handled and stored in a way that prevents cross contamination
Be removed and disposed of immediately if it becomes contaminated or presents a health or safety concern

Hands, surfaces, equipment and resources must be cleaned appropriately before and after food play activities.

Children must be supervised throughout. Staff must be alert to any signs of an allergic reaction or other adverse reaction to food used during play. Where a reaction is suspected, staff must follow the appropriate first aid, medical and emergency procedures, including the child’s individual healthcare plan where applicable.

Any allergic reaction, suspected reaction, allergen exposure, near miss or other concern relating to food play must be reported and recorded.

Food used as a play resource should not routinely be consumed by children unless the activity has been specifically planned as an edible sensory experience and appropriate food safety measures are in place.

Where necessary, suitable alternative resources must be provided to enable children to participate safely.

Sustainability and Food Waste

Wise Owls is committed to using food resources responsibly and reducing unnecessary food waste.

Food play activities will be limited to a maximum of two planned activities per week within each room or group, unless otherwise agreed by the Nursery Management Team.

Staff should:

Consider non-food alternatives before selecting food-based resources
Use food thoughtfully and only where there is a clear educational benefit
Where appropriate, use surplus food that remains safe, clean and suitable for use in play, provided it has been stored and handled appropriately and does not present an allergy, hygiene or other safety risk
Only reuse food resources where this can be done safely and hygienically
Dispose of any food where there is doubt about its suitability for reuse

Roles and Responsibilities

All staff are responsible for:

Ensuring appropriate risk assessments and control measures are in place and implemented
Checking relevant allergy, dietary and ingredient information before planning and carrying out activities
Maintaining appropriate hygiene and safety standards
Actively supervising children throughout activities
Using professional judgement when planning food-based activities
Reporting and recording any allergic reactions, suspected reactions, allergen exposures, near misses or other concerns relating to food play in line with safer feeding, allergy awareness and incident reporting procedures