All food is cooked in our YMCA Fairthorne kitchen and meals are freshly prepared each day.

Menus are planned to be balanced, age appropriate, and suitable for children at different stages of development. Meals are served in a calm, supportive environment where children are encouraged to explore food at their own pace.

Yes. We cater for allergies, intolerances, medical needs, cultural and religious dietary requirements.

All dietary information is carefully recorded and shared with the team caring for your child. If anything changes, we ask parents to let us know as soon as possible so we can adapt safely.

Fussy eating is very common, especially in young children.

• Offer gentle encouragement, never pressure
• Reintroduce foods over time
• Follow your child’s cues
• Focus on creating positive mealtime experiences

Our aim is to build confidence around food, not force consumption.

No. Children are never forced to eat.

We support children to listen to their own hunger and fullness cues, offering reassurance and encouragement rather than pressure.

Yes. We welcome babies from as young as 4 months and work closely with parents to support feeding in a way that feels right for your child and your family.

Milk feeds remain the primary source of nutrition for babies under 6 months, unless advised otherwise by a healthcare professional.

Weaning is introduced gradually and in partnership with parents.

Before your child starts, we will share a weaning document for you to complete. This is kept up to date throughout the whole weaning journey so we can match exactly what your child is doing at home.

Weaning works best with open communication, so we will regularly check in with you and follow what has been agreed together.

We support baby led weaning and traditional purée led weaning, as well as mixed approaches.

What matters most is your child’s readiness and what you prefer at home. We will always follow what has been agreed with you.

Safety is a priority during mealtimes. Staff are trained in safe food preparation, appropriate textures for each stage, supervised eating, and first aid and choking response.

Foods are prepared in line with current safety guidance for babies and young children.

No. We will never offer foods your child has not tried yet.

We use your weaning document to track new foods and textures, and we only follow what you have already introduced at home, unless you ask us to support something new.

All food is cooked on site, and if your child is currently on purées only, we will purée the meal that is on the menu that day.

This means your child can stay aligned with the nursery menu while still eating at the stage that is right for them.

Yes. Weaning is not linear.

If your child needs to slow down, pause, or adjust textures, we will adapt. Communication with parents is ongoing and flexible.

Yes. We support both breastfed and formula fed babies.

We have a dedicated fridge for breast milk. It is clearly labelled and stored in your child’s own basket.

We follow the 5-5-5 guidance for breast milk storage and handling, and we will always follow your instructions for how milk should be prepared and offered.

Where needed, we can also support children using thickeners and fortifiers, as agreed with you and any relevant healthcare guidance.

Water is offered alongside meals once children are developmentally ready, in line with guidance and your preferences.

Mealtimes are calm, social, and unhurried.

Children eat in small groups where possible and are supported by familiar adults. We encourage independence while offering help and reassurance when needed.

This depends on individual circumstances, such as medical or dietary needs. Please speak to your nursery team so we can agree the best approach together.

We share information about your child’s meals through daily handovers and ParentZone updates, particularly for babies and younger children.

If you have concerns, we encourage you to speak to us.

We’re happy to:

• Talk through what we’re seeing
• Adjust approaches
• Work with you to support your child’s relationship with food