Food for Life (Silver Award)
Soil Association
Food & Nutrition at Toad Hall Nursery
We believe that nutritious meals play a critical role in the development and growth of children. So, every Toad Hall Nursery has its very own onsite Chef and kitchen team who prepare and cook meals each day for the children using fresh and high quality ingredients. Our commitment is not to just provide nutritious meals, but a culinary journey that supports the knowledge and wellbeing of your little ones.
All our meals, snacks and drinks are included in our fees.
Our menus
Proudly Partnered with
Through our exciting partnership with Tiny Tums — specialists in early years nutrition — we've created a thoughtfully designed food programme that supports children at every stage, from their very first tastes during weaning through to healthy, nourishing preschool meals.
The new menus have been created to:
• Support brain development and learning
• Help build strong bones and encourage healthy growth
• Inspire children to enjoy a wide variety of colourful foods
• Promote positive and relaxed food experiences
• Align with the latest Early Years nutrition guidance
Our menus take into consideration different cultural backgrounds and cater for a range of dietary requirements. Our puddings and snacks are naturally sweetened with fruits and vegetables, helping children develop a preference for natural foods.
Where our ingredients come from
We are proud to hold the Silver Food for Life accreditation, reflecting our commitment to high-quality, fresh and sustainable food. This award recognises that we meet robust national standards in providing nutritious meals for children every day.
To maintain quality, we source all our food from one trusted supplier. Creed ensures that the ingredients we use are sustainably sourced and Red Tractor meat certified, covering the standards for animal welfare together with the safety, traceability, and environmental impacts.
Here are just a few of Creed's accreditations:
Rainforest Alliance Certified
RSPCA Assured
Red Tractor Certified Standards
Certified Sustainable Seafood MSC
Learning about food
At Toad Hall Nursery, we take a 360 approach to food and nutrition. Alongside freshly prepared meals, children learn about healthy eating through hands-on cooking, growing activities, play, stories and conversation.
Through our partnership with Tiny Tums, friendly characters help children understand how food supports their bodies, from brain development and strong bones to tummy health, emotional wellbeing and muscle growth.
We also grow some of our own produce, giving children the opportunity to plant, nurture and harvest vegetables while learning where food comes from. Our chefs then incorporate this fresh, home-grown produce into their meals wherever possible.
Chicken & Vegetable Pie
A nourishing and comforting chicken & vegetable pie, packed with wholesome ingredients and perfect for little tummies.
Ingredients
(Serves 4)
250g diced chicken breast or thigh Quorn
200g mixed root veg (carrot, parsnip, beetroot & swede)
150ml low-sodium chicken stock
¼ tsp dried herbs
40ml semi-skimmed milk
20g unsalted butter
20g plain flour
Ready-made puff pastry
1 egg, beaten (for glaze)
Method
1. Preheat oven to 180°C (fan).
2. Boil/Roast diced root veg until just tender & mash.
3. In a large pan, cook chicken/Quorn until browned and cooked through.
4. Make a roux with butter and flour, whisk in milk and stock to form sauce.
5. Add veg, chicken and herbs; stir to coat.
6. Pour mixture into deep trays.
7. Roll out puff pastry and cut into circles with pastry cutter, cook on a baking sheet sepearetly to the pie mix then serve age-appropriate amounts.
8. Bake 30–35 minutes until golden and piping hot.
9. Cool before serving.
