Food & Nutrition
At Berkhampstead, we know that healthy, nourishing food supports both wellbeing and learning. That’s why we place great emphasis on mealtimes – not just what’s on the plate, but the whole dining experience.
A Warm, Family Atmosphere
We embrace a family dining approach, where a member of staff joins each table, creating a calm, respectful and sociable environment. Mealtimes are a valued part of the school day – a chance to pause, reflect and enjoy conversation. They also offer a daily opportunity to practise good table manners and feel part of our community.
Fresh, Local and Nourishing
All our food is freshly prepared on-site by our experienced in-house catering team. We prioritise seasonal and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible, ensuring each meal is both delicious and nutritious. From morning snacks to desserts, every dish is made from scratch with care and quality in mind.
Balanced and Thoughtful Menus
We work hard to provide a varied and well-balanced diet that meets the needs and preferences of our pupils. Each week’s menu offers a wide range of nutritious options, including a two-course hot lunch.
Catering Manager Rob Fisher meets regularly with pupils at Food Council meetings to gather feedback and shape our termly menus. This collaborative approach ensures our meals are not only healthy but are well-received.
We cater for specific dietary needs and have rigorous allergen management protocols in place, so that every child can enjoy their meal safely.
Expertly Supported
We work in partnership with specialist catering consultants, ISCC, who bring over 15 years of experience in procurement, nutrition and catering best practice. Their expert guidance ensures our operations are efficient, sustainable and always of the highest standard – with local suppliers at the heart of what we do.
Celebrating Food
Throughout the year, we celebrate food in fun and engaging ways. From themed days and global cuisines to supplier demonstrations and tasting tables, there’s always something to spark curiosity and expand young palates.
Early Years Foundation Stage Nutrition Guidance
In Early Years, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage nutrition guidance, published by the Department for Education. This guidance supports providers in ensuring that any meals, snacks and drinks offered to children aged 0–5 are healthy, balanced and nutritious, helping to establish positive eating habits from an early age.
The guidance encourages settings to provide a wide variety of foods, textures and flavours so that children can develop healthy relationships with food and build balanced dietary habits that support their growth and development.
Our catering team and staff work together to ensure that menus, snacks and drinks reflect these principles. This includes offering balanced meals based on recognised nutritional guidance such as the Eatwell approach, promoting fresh ingredients, and supporting children to develop healthy attitudes towards food.
Although this guidance specifically applies to Early Years children, we extend the same values and principles of healthy eating across all age groups at Berkhampstead School. Our whole-school approach ensures that pupils of all ages benefit from nutritious food choices that support learning, wellbeing and lifelong healthy habits.
You can read the full guidance here:
Early Years Foundation Stage nutrition guidance (Department for Education)
