When assessing whether you comply with PF114

Questions we are likely to ask

• Where do children sit when eating at your centre?
• How do you clean and prepare eating surfaces?

We are likely to look at, measure or count

• Look at the dining spaces used.
• Look at the condition and cleanliness of tables, highchairs, mats, and seating areas.

A clean and safe place to sit while eating helps keep children healthy and supports supervision while they eat.

Doing more than the minimum helps make things better for children and easier for staff. Below are some ideas you can consider.

Create calm, social eating environments that support positive mealtime experiences. Involving children in setting up and tidying builds independence and helps children feel part of the routine.

Things to consider

When considering how to provide children with safe and hygienic places to sit while eating you might like to think about:

• the ages and abilities of the children attending
• the length of time children attend
• the tikanga around serving and eating food and is what appropriate transition from activity to kai space.
• any cultural or family considerations
• how often children eat at your centre each day
• if meals are scheduled or rolling
• location of eating areas in relation to hand washing facilities
• if clearing tables for meals will impact upon the programme
• the philosophy that underpins the service
• the kind of food provided, for example, food cooked at the centre or packed lunches brought by the children
• the space available
• whether the existing furniture is suitable
• how food can be kept safe and hygienic while being consumed
• service or organisational policies.

When eating outdoors as part of the day-to-day programme, plan for a clean, shaded space where food stays off the ground and children can be safely supervised.