SNACKS

All snacks should be healthy and low in fat, sugar or salt. 

• High fat is considered to be >17.5%
• High sugar is considered to be >20%

We are a nut-free school, to guard against the potential for pupils with undiagnosed or non-notified allergies to nuts being inadvertently exposed.

Parents should be aware that manufacturers employ clever marketing to promote the healthier ingredients, and hide the fact that they may be high in fat (>17.5%) or sugar (>20%). This includes staples such as fruit winders. 

SCHOOL PROVIDED SNACKS

Every infant child in our school is provided a daily fruit snack, delivered fresh by Minor, Weir and Will under contract to the Government.

We have extended this to all KS2 pupils at the school's expense ensuring that every child can have a fruit snack every day.

This will include apples, pears, satsumas, pea pods, tomatoes, raisins, bananas, carrots and more.

Nothing goes to waste - leftovers are sent to wraparound provision to be used up. 

SNACKS FROM HOME

Parents can complement the daily fruit snack with items provided from home. These must be on the green list below - and must not be on the red list. 

GREEN SNACKS - FINE TO SEND EVERYDAY

Examples of healthy snacks for kids include:

• Bananas, apples, pears or berries - the ultimate in fast food. Some don't even need peeling! You may need to wash some fruit items first. Fruit is high in fibre and helps hydrate your little one.

• Vegetable sticks made from carrot, cucumber or celery.

• Wholemeal toast or pitta bread with cream cheese, cottage cheese, or hummus. Wholemeal food items such as bread, rice and pasta are higher in fibre and more filling than their non-wholemeal versions.

• Dried fruit, such as apricots or raisins (but use in moderation, as they're very concentrated in sugar).

• Yoghurt (full of calcium and protein).

   

RED SNACKS - should never be sent to school

Anything on the 'only at lunchtime' list in the food standards or high in fat or sugar should not be sent in to school as a breaktime snack!

This includes:

• Cakes or cake bars* 
• Biscuits*
• Savoury Crackers or breadsticks*
• Sweets or other confectionery
• Chocolate or chocolate coated/containing items, including chocolate spreads
• Crisps or crisp-like snacks**
• Fruit winders (37% sugar) or similar sugar + gel combinations
• Rice Krispie squares (32% sugar) or similar high sugar items
• Flapjack or cereal bars***

This list is not exhaustive.

Items on the red list will be removed and returned at the end of the school day to be brought home again. Children will be directed to the free fruit on offer instead.

 * Cakes, biscuits, crackers and breadsticks are only allowed at lunchtimes within the food standards

 **Crisps and similar are deep fried and/or high in salt and may be part of packed lunches no more than twice a week. 

*** Flapjacks and cereal can be included in packed lunches, but not as breaktime snacks. They should comply with the 'low sugar' guidance and fruits should be the primary sweeteners. 

A NOTE ON BIRTHDAY CAKES

A small number of families have previously chosen to send 'a cake' to school on their children's birthdays.

Having reflected on the food standards and, in particular, the statement that 'no cakes, biscuits or pastries' should be available outside lunchtime and that the majority of birthday cakes fall foul of the 'no confectionery at any time' rule, we have decided that from September 2023 birthday cakes will be considered a red item along with other cakes and no longer be allowed in school.

Families are welcome to send healthier alternatives to share - e.g a fruit basket or packets of dried fruit pieces.

DRINKS

Fir Ends promotes plain fresh water as the drink of choice during the school day in line with the school food standards.

This is readily available in every classroom, does not contain sugar or additives and hydrates body and brain perfectly adequately.

In line with the food standards, a limited selection of other drinks may be served within the school day:

"The only drinks permitted are:

• plain water (still or carbonated)
• lower fat milk or lactose reduced milk
• fruit or vegetable juice (max 150mls)
• plain soya, rice or oat drinks enriched with calcium; plain fermented milk (for example yoghurt) drinks
• combinations of fruit or vegetable juice with plain water (still or carbonated, with no added sugars or honey)
• combinations of fruit juice and lower fat milk or plain yoghurt, plain soya, rice or oat drinks enriched with calcium; cocoa and lower fat milk; flavoured lower fat milk, all with less than 5% added sugars or honey
• tea, coffee, hot chocolate

Combination drinks are limited to a portion size of 330mls. They may contain added vitamins or minerals, and no more than 150mls fruit or vegetable juice. Fruit or vegetable juice combination drinks must be at least 45% fruit or vegetable juice."

School Food Standards (2015)

SCHOOL PROVIDED DRINKS

The school makes fresh, plain drinking water available in every classroom and the lunchhall.

Pupils should have their own water bottle to fill throughout the day; these should be returned home daily to be washed in soapy water to prevent illness.

Pupils without bottles will be able to use a cup provided by the school. 

 In addition to this, at breakfast and after-school club, water mixed 50:50 with apple or orange juice is available.

DRINKS FROM HOME

Parents may wish to send pupils to school with a water bottle that is already full. 

It should contain just plain water, or one of the allowed options listed above. 

Drinks bottles sent to school pre-filled should not contain water mixed with cordials. Although many are advertised as 'no-added sugar' - this does not mean 'sugar free', and they typically contain other unnecessary additives. 

Carton drinks are not allowed in school, unless as part of a packed lunch for offsite trips where refilling a water bottle at mid-day may be impractical. 

Staff have authority to replace inappropriate drinks provided from home with plain water. 

DRINKS AT LUNCHTIME

All pupils have access to fresh, plain water at lunchtime; pupils bringing packed lunches are included in this and there is no need for them to bring cartons or similar drinks instead. 

Pupils eligible for free-school meals are able to select milk as their lunchtime drink.

Similarly, pupils who are subscribed to CoolMilk (see below) can choose to have their daily milk with their lunch.

FRESH MILK

Pupils under the age of five have a daily portion of fresh milk funded by the government. This is provided at breaktime (approx. 10.30am).

The school subsidises milk to the end of the reception year for pupils that turn five during it. This is reviewed annually.

Pupils in years 1-6 can continue to receive milk if parents subscribe to the CoolMilk direct debit system. they can choose to have their milk at breaktime or lunchtime.

Visit CoolMilk.com

Milk is also available to pupils attending  breakfast club every day, and any leftovers are used up at after-school club.