Nutrition and feeding
Catering for students’ dietary needs
Everyone needs to eat well to stay fit and healthy, and mealtimes are also a chance for everyone to get together in our state-of-the-art dining room at the heart of the School. 
Some of our students need extra help with their diets, either because they are prone to putting on weight, they need a high calorie diet or they have a gastrostomy. We cater, quite literally, for all these dietary needs, and more.
Thanks to a £2.8 million investment in 2002/3 in a new catering and dining complex, our facilities really are excellent. Our catering team prepares over 700 meals a day to suit different tastes and diets. And we have a state registered dietician who works with our care, medical and therapy staff, and advises on appropriate menus.
- Our chefs are happy to produce meals for particular health needs – such as low protein, dairy or gluten-free, low or higher calorie, or pureed or minced food; as well as kosher, vegetarian and halal diets, if required.
- Our dietician keeps a close eye on students’ weight in relation to their growth and development.
- We can also provide extra help and equipment for students who have difficulty eating. We have a nutritional support team which includes an occupational therapist who is an expert on dysphagia (chewing and swallowing difficulties). We also have close links with the Great Ormond Street Dysphagia team.
- Dining staff are sensitive to students’ needs and are aware that some children may need extra time to eat.
