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Nutrition guidance for wraparound and holiday provision

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Ensuring children have access to nutritious food during wraparound care and holiday clubs is vital for their health, wellbeing, and development. For providers registered on the early years register, this supports the early years foundation stage nutrition (EYFS) requirement to promote healthy eating and provide balanced, nutritious meals. Those on the childcare register must also meet welfare requirements around food safety and hygiene.

The school food standards apply throughout the school day, including before and after school, and during holiday provision, helping settings offer high-quality meals that encourage healthy eating habits. While not mandatory for all out-of-school settings, aligning with these standards demonstrates good practice and supports compliance with Ofsted expectations.

  • Early years register: Providers must meet EYFS requirements by promoting healthy eating and offering balanced meals.
  • Childcare register: Must comply with food safety and hygiene welfare standards.
  • School food standards: Apply throughout the school day, including before and after school, as well as holidays. While not mandatory for all out-of-school settings, following them shows good practice and supports Ofsted expectations.

Helpful resources:

  • Schools | School Food Matters offers sample menus, recipes, and tips for clubs with limited facilities and budgets, as well as practical advice for aligning with school food policies.
  • Homepage - School Food Plan provides further guidance and tools to support healthy food provision.

Engaging children and families in menu planning and making healthy choices fun helps build a positive food culture in your provision.

Providing a nutritious packed lunch or snack from home plays a key role in supporting children’s energy, concentration, and overall wellbeing throughout the day. The NHS’s Healthier Families website offers a wealth of practical ideas and recipes to help families prepare balanced, tasty, and affordable meals.

Explore the lunchbox ideas and recipes for inspiration on how to build a lunch that includes a variety of food groups such as wholegrains, lean proteins, dairy or alternatives, and plenty of fruit and veg.

When it comes to snacks, the Healthier snacks - Food facts guide encourages choosing options that are lower in sugar, salt, and saturated fat. Think fruit, vegetable sticks, rice cakes, or yoghurt instead of crisps, sweets, or sugary drinks.

Hydration

Staying well-hydrated is essential for children’s concentration, physical health, and overall wellbeing. According to the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), children aged five to 11 should aim to drink around six to eight glasses of fluid a day, using smaller glasses (150-200ml) for younger children.

Recommended drinks include:

  • Water is the best choice throughout the day, as it hydrates without adding calories or harming teeth.
  • Milk is a good source of protein, calcium, iodine, and B vitamins. Lower-fat options like semi-skimmed or 1% milk are suitable for most children.
  • Unsweetened, calcium-fortified dairy alternatives can be included for children who do not consume dairy.
  • Fruit and vegetable juices or smoothies, limited to one small glass (150ml) per day, ideally with meals, due to their sugar and acidity.
  • Sugar-free drinks can be offered occasionally, but water and milk should remain the main choices.

Avoid sugary drinks, fizzy drinks, and energy drinks, as they offer little nutritional value and may harm teeth or contain stimulants unsuitable for children.

The BNF hydration poster* for children aged five to 11 years provides information about appropriate drinks.

*Size: 851KB File format: PDF

Guidance related to working with children with additional needs (SEND)

Children with SEND may face challenges around eating, such as sensory sensitivities, restricted diets, or physical difficulties. These can make mealtimes stressful, but with the right support, progress is possible.

Useful resources:

*Size: 256KB File format: PDF

**Size: 287KB File format: PDF

Working closely with health professionals such as dietitians, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists can make a significant difference in helping children develop safe and enjoyable eating habits.

Mealtime environment and supporting behaviours

A calm, welcoming mealtime environment helps children feel secure, encourages positive eating habits, and supports social development. The Mealtime Environment Checklist 2024* highlights the importance of creating a space that is comfortable, inclusive, and free from unnecessary distractions.

*Size: 2.5MB File format: PDF

For older children or those with additional needs, reasonable adjustments might include:

  • Providing visual supports or routines to reduce anxiety.
  • Allowing extra time to eat without feeling rushed.
  • Offering quieter seating areas or noise-reducing tools.
  • Using consistent language and positive reinforcement to support expected behaviours.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Children and Young People’s Health Services offer practical advice for managing fussy eating, including how to introduce new foods gradually, maintain a relaxed atmosphere, and avoid pressure at the table.

Watch video resources:

Home - Ped Support offers personalised eating disorder support.

Food safety and allergy awareness

Ensuring food safety and managing allergies effectively is a vital part of safeguarding children in early years settings. Providers must follow clear procedures to prevent allergic reactions and maintain high standards of hygiene when preparing, storing, and serving food.

The Department for Education’s (DfE) Help for early years providers : Food safety guidance outlines the importance of identifying children with allergies, working closely with families, and having clear protocols in place for managing allergens and responding to emergencies. This includes staff training, clear labelling, and avoiding cross-contamination.

The school food standards practical guide also reinforces the need for allergen awareness and safe food handling practices, even in non-school settings such as wraparound care and holiday clubs.

The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, established in memory of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, campaigns for improved allergy education and legislation. Their work has led to Natasha’s Law, which requires full ingredient and allergen labelling on all pre-packed foods for direct sale, a key consideration for settings offering snacks or meals prepared on-site.

The Food Standards Agency provides detailed guidance on:

  • Recognising the 14 major allergens.
  • Communicating allergen information clearly to parents and carers.
  • Creating an allergy-safe environment through staff training and risk assessments.

Explore more Healthy Eating | School Wellbeing.

Food storage

In some settings, children bring their snacks, drinks, and packed lunches. These foods must be stored and handled safely to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. The FSA’s Safer food, better business for caterers, and Safer food, better business guidance offer practical advice for managing food safety, including how to keep food cool throughout the day, especially important during warmer months or when refrigeration is not available.

Parents and carers can also benefit from tips provided by Safe Food, Keeping school lunchboxes safe, which include using insulated lunch bags with ice packs, avoiding perishable fillings if refrigeration is not possible, and encouraging good hygiene practices like handwashing before eating.

These resources can support both settings and families in promoting safe, healthy eating habits.

Recipes and food education resources