The aims and objectives of this policy are:

• To benefit the school community as a whole.
• To guarantee the health and well being of the students and staff at King´s College Murcia.
• To ensure consistency throughout the school.

At King´s College Murcia, healthy eating and good manners are encouraged throughout the entire school community.

Healthy eating is taken to mean the food and drink consumed by the children and staff throughout the school, and is monitored by all staff members and the school nurse.

Good manners are taken to mean the way the children and staff conduct themselves in and out of school, maintaining the school´s high standard of manners.

Healthy Eating

The children and staff at King´s College Murcia are given a full meal at lunchtime every day and are encouraged to bring snacks and drinks for morning break.

Morning Break

In order to actively encourage healthy eating, the range of drinks and snacks allowed during morning break are as follows:

• A piece of fruit.
• Squares of cheese.
• Crackers.
• Raw vegetables.
• Fruit juice or water to drink.
• Yoghurt.

Any form of chocolate, sweets, fizzy drinks or crisps are forbidden!

Any form of nut product is forbidden due to the risk to children with nut allergies.

Any children with allergies are required to submit in writing to the school nurse their concerns.  Allergies are recorded on the claSS system and all teachers are informed.  The children are monitored by the kitchen and academic staff.

Children with dietary requirements such as celiac/vegetarian/religious choice follow the above procedure.

Concerns raised by the children´s choice of morning snack must be communicated to the child´s class tutor.  The class tutor will then inform the child´s parents/guardians and alternative choices will be arranged.

Lunchtime

The school´s lunchtime menu is strictly monitored by the school nurse.

The weekly menu offers a balanced diet that includes meat, fish and a vegetarian option of a main course.

Everyday a wide choice of dairy, vegetable and salad produce is available.

Each and every child in the school community should be encouraged to try everything on their tray, particularly fruit and vegetables.

Staff should encourage children to eat a healthy, balanced diet; however, children should never be forced to eat or drink anything.

Children are to remain sitting at a table for both their snacks and their lunches.

Children are to be encouraged to clean their own stations when they have finished eating and place any refuse in the designated rubbish bins.

At least one member of staff is to be present for all duties in order to ensure the above arrangements are maintained and monitored.

A monthly menu is posted on the website for the parents/guardians information.

Healthy eating is taught consistently throughout the school throughout all areas of the curriculum, particularly PSHE.

Good Manners

In order to maintain the high standards of manners at King´s College Murcia, it is essential that all staff monitor the following:

• Children are to remain sitting throughout any activities that include eating and drinking.
• At least one member of staff per table in both dining rooms is to be present, in order to encourage both healthy eating and good manners.
• Children are to be encouraged to use their cutlery appropriately (the knive is used for cutting only.
• Children should sit upright with their elbows off the table.
• Children should not use their hands to eat.
• Children should not talk with their mouths full or eat with their mouths open!
• Staff should monitor the noise level of the children.
• Good manners such as ´please´ and ´thank you´ should be encouraged consistently.
• Movement around the school should be in class lines on the right hand side of the corridors.
• Children should be encouraged to allow access for children of a younger age and adults.
• Movement around the school should be quiet at all times.
• No running is allowed.

Requests for changes to normal eating routines

• Any changes to lunch times or snack times are to go through the school nurse.
• Changes should be made on the correct form at least One week in advance, except in exceptional circumstances.

April 2011