Food in school
For ideas and support with food at home, have a look at the 'Food and feeding' section of our Get help page.
For the detail of how we approach food, read our Food Policy on Our policies page.
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Food management and allergies
Hygiene
Staff who prepare food have at least Level 1 Food Hygiene Certificate. At Church Hill our Food Standards Agency Food Hygiene Rating is 5,and at Low Hall our score is 4.
Cooking
Small groups cook regularly as part of the curriculum.
Allergies
We display photos of children with allergies explaining the allergy, the foods which can and can’t be eaten, the symptoms of an allergic reaction, the treatment required and any precautions that need to be taken during activities involving food, e.g. craft/messy play. Lunch menus are agreed in advance, the ingredients are cross-checked against the list of allergies that children on roll have, and appropriate action is taken to keep them safe.
Nuts in particular
Both our schools are totally nut-free. People who suffer from nut allergies can develop a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
If someone has a nut allergy, just being touched on the skin or smelling the breath of someone who has touched and eaten nuts or a product containing nuts can trigger anaphylactic shock (which can cause breathing and swallowing difficulties). First aid staff in the school are trained to use Epi-pens (an injection of adrenalin), which is required immediately if this reaction happens.
We cannot have nuts in school in any form, so please don't bring in nut products when you pick up your child, in packed lunches, or if you bring in treats for a birthday or other celebration.
Nuts are found in products that shout about it, like peanut butter, but are also hidden in the small print of the ingredients' list, for example, in chocolates, cakes, biscuits, and cereal bars, sauces and satay. Please check the packaging of products closely.
This is an additional thing to check. If it was your child, you would expect that we all help, especially as it is a life-threatening condition.
Particular meals
Meal times are a social event, where children and staff can talk about their interests, what they do at nursery and at home, and share enjoyment of the food available. We appreciate any information and advice parents can give about their children’s eating preferences, and we will help them to try a wider range of food than they may have previously been used to.
Menus are displayed in advance on the board next to the dining room.
Snack table
During every session, we offer a variety of vegetarian healthy snacks for children to choose from — raw vegetables, cereals and fruit, water and milk. This is paid for by School Fund and our Milk Grant. We do not offer any snacks containing nuts, gelatine, or other animal products.
Lunch at Church Hill
Lunchtime food for Church Hill is prepared at the Walthamstow School for Girls kitchen, and you can see the menus below. Food may vary from time to time, depending on the availability of ingredients, but will always be healthy and nutrionally-balanced. Pudding only comes once a week in order to keep our young children's diet healthy.
Tea
Tea is prepared in our kitchens.
Playscheme
Food is prepared in our kitchens. When children bring in packed lunches, we periodically assess the contents and where appropriate, encourage parents to send in healthier options.
Lunch menus
Work out which week this is by using colour-coded calendars. Download a pdf of the menus at the bottom of the page.
