At Buttsbury Pre-school in Billericay, we offer a lunch club starting at 11:30 am for children attending full-day sessions.

Families are asked to pack a healthy lunch in a named lunch box with easy-to-open containers and child-friendly cutlery to promote the children’s independence. Drinks are provided, so no drinks bottles need to be sent in.

The children have half an hour to eat their lunch, so we suggest a small portion of pasta or a sandwich, a piece of fruit, yogurt, or a small salad as part of our focus on healthy eating.

Lunch Club Standards at Buttsbury Pre-school Billericay

• Include a cool pack in all lunch boxes.
   
• No nuts or nut products are allowed due to allergies. This includes peanut butter and anything with "may contain nuts" on the label, to ensure the safety of all our children.
   
• Label homemade items and state that they are nut-free to avoid confusion.
   
• Avoid adding chocolate or sweets to lunch bags to help promote healthy eating.
   
• Children under five cannot have marshmallows, popcorn, raisins, chewing gum, or small hard sweets; these will also be removed if found for safety reasons.
   
• To prevent choking, cut food items like cheese, grapes, large blueberries, strawberries, cocktail sausages, melon and cherry tomatoes into quarters lengthways, and remove cherry stones. If unsure, watch Early Start Nutrition's video on how to safely cut fruit and vegetables to reduce choking risk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCjZLbejZm8

Any non-compliant items will be removed to ensure the safety and well-being of all children at our Billericay pre-school.

At Buttsbury Pre-school, we strive to maintain high standards to provide an enriching and safe environment for all our children, making us one of the best pre-schools in Billericay.

Further Guidance for Parents

• GOV.UK - Read official food safety guidance for Early Years providers: View GOV.UK Food Safety Advice
• Food Standards Agency - Download practical tables on choking hazards and safe food preparation—these are the same guidelines followed at Buttsbury Pre-school: Choking Hazard & Food Safety Advice
• Early Start Nutrition - Watch helpful videos on how to safely cut fruit and vegetables to reduce choking risk: Watch on YouTube
• NHS - Access a wide range of NHS-approved resources on weaning and feeding for babies and toddlers: Explore NHS Resources
• Department for Education - Read the official Nutrition Guidance for Early Years Providers, covering meal planning, portion sizes, and nutritional standards: Download the PDF Guide