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.
Salmon, butter bean and potato gratin
Serves 5
A healthy, delicious, and balanced meal for children, providing essential protein to support growth, fibre to aid healthy digestion, and carbohydrates to provide sustained energy for active days.
Ingredients
500g boneless, skinless salmon fillets (fresh or frozen)
400g potatoes cooked and mashed
400g tinned butterbeans beans
200g frozen peas
200g sweetcorn
400g spinach
150g grated cheese
Method
1. Cook salmon and thoroughly check for bones whilst flaking the fish.
2. In a saucepan, gently heat the milk, then add frozen peas, sweetcorn, spinach.
3. Simmer gently for 5–7 minutes until the veg is soft and heated through. Let cool slightly, then blend until smooth using a hand blender or jug blender to create a creamy, bright green sauce.
4.In a large mixing bowl or dish, combine the cooked potatoes (lightly mashed), carefully flaked salmon and the beans.
5. Pour over the blended veg sauce and gently mix until everything is well coated.
6. Transfer the mixture into a large ovenproof baking dish, Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the top.
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C / 350°F for 20–25 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbling.
