There was cause for celebration at Woodlands Day Nursery in Milton Keynes as the setting received the ‘Elite Award’ from the Food Standards Agency, the highest ranking in the scheme, following another five star rating and inspection of the premises.  

After reviewing key areas such as food handling, storage and preparation, the Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ Day Nursery on Byerly Place was awarded the ‘Elite’ status, having received three consecutive five star ratings, with praise going to Nursery Chef, Tracy Miller and Kitchen Assistant, Emily Snook for their attention to detail and rigorous processes in place.

Whilst the ‘Elite Award’ was newly introduced by ‘Scores on the Doors’ in 2021, Tracy boasts a record of nine successive five-star inspections at Woodlands, dating back to May 2011.

Woodlands Day Nursery Chef, Tracy Miller explained;

“We are thrilled to receive the Elite Award as we are hugely passionate about the food we serve in nursery and pride ourselves on the high standards we maintain. It’s incredibly rewarding to hear the feedback from the staff, parents and most importantly the children, as to how much they enjoy the meals that are being provided.”

Food plays a key role in daily activities at the setting, from celebrating diversity in marking multicultural festivals with traditional ingredients, to growing herbs and vegetables in the garden outside, where children also learn key maths, science and conservation skills.

The nursery is also accredited with the sought-after ‘Food for Life Served Here’ award, which acknowledges the use of ethically sourced ingredients in home cooked meals; including the children’s home-grown produce, in addition to use of suppliers committed to environmentally friendly and ethical production.