Summary :

Children deserve choice. Falkirk Council has removed the daily cold lunch option in ELCC settings — help us call for its return.

Petition Body:

Falkirk Council’s Early Learning and Childcare (ELCC) settings have removed the daily cold lunch option from nursery menus — a choice that many families valued and that children were familiar with.

This change was made without parental consultation and with little transparency. While Falkirk Council states that the new menus meet Scottish Government nutritional guidance (Setting the Table – 2nd Edition), the guidance does not prevent nurseries from offering both a hot and a cold option each day. In fact, many neighbouring councils — working under the same guidance — continue to provide a daily and visible cold alternative.

Parents are concerned that this change could have a negative impact on some children, particularly those who:

1. Have sensory needs or food aversions that make certain textures or temperatures difficult to manage.
2. Prefer familiar cold options and may now eat less during the nursery day.
   Benefit from the comfort and reassurance of being able to choose between two options.

We are asking Falkirk Council to:

1. Reinstate the daily cold lunch option in all ELCC settings.
2. Publish clear guidance on what “larder” alternatives are consistently available across all nurseries.
3. Consult with parents and carers before making significant changes to meal provision in the future.

Children deserve choice, inclusivity, and a supportive mealtime environment. Meeting the “minimum compliance” standard is not enough.

By signing this petition, you are standing up for the children of Falkirk and calling on the council to review this decision and act in the best interests of families across the area.