food safety and hygiene

safe and wholesome, from 'gate to plate'

Using just one food supplier, we have full traceability for all ingredients used to prepare the food on our menus - from where the food is grown or reared, to when the children are served - a 'Gate to Plate' traceability and audit trail.

To ensure that only wholesome healthy food items are used, we have a restricted buying list with our supplier. All the ingredients required to produce the menu have been checked for suitability - for example all chicken we use (except Halal) is Red Tractor Assured.

All our kitchen teams and senior nursery staff are trained and qualified to level 2 in food safety, all of our staff are regularly trained to maintain the highest standards of food safety and hygiene, and this is reflected in our excellent EHO star ratings.

EHO star ratings

Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) employed by many local Councils decide the score/star rating of each food business following a planned food hygiene inspection. Inspections take place between every six months to two years, depending on the nature of the business and history of compliance with food law.

Following an inspection, a star rating from 1 to 5 is awarded, with 5 being the highest rating possible.

Most of our nurseries achieve at least a 4 star rating - Very Good ("good food safety management, high standard of compliance to food safety legislation").

Several of our nurseries have been awarded 5 stars - Excellent ("very high standards of food safety management, fully compliant with food safety legislation").

Some local Councils use a 0-3 star rating system for marking the level of food safety in food premises in their areas.