WHOLE COLLEGE FOOD POLICY

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1 Crown woods College WHOLE COLLEGE FOOD POLICY INTRODUCTION As a Healthy College, Crown woods are committed to encouraging and developing positive attitudes towards food and a healthy diet. Promoting a healthy life style is integral to our curriculum and we recognise the importance of giving pupils the opportunity to make informed choices about what, when, where and why they eat. As a College we know that food is fundamental to the quality of a child s life, not just in providing essential nutrition but in communicating and sharing positive values, attitudes and experiences with each other. We believe that adults (staff, parents and carers) should be good role models and should support the pupils in understanding how balanced nutrition contributes to a person s health, happiness and general well-being. We have used the following approach to identify what areas we need to change to develop a more healthy approach to the issue of food in our school: How well are we doing? How well should we be doing? What more should we aim to achieve? What must we do to make it happen? What action should we take and how do we review progress? A whole College food policy can significantly impact on the health and well-being of pupils and staff. Given the increasing evidence concerning obesity levels and the associated illnesses relating to poor diet, there is a growing recognition that schools can make a major contribution to improving the health and well-being of both pupils and staff, as well as their families. Children that eat a healthy, well balanced diet are better able to concentrate within class and are more likely to be receptive to learning. A whole College food policy is more effective than piecemeal activities and gives a consistency of message across all school activities. What approaches can you use? Select appropriate pupil representatives and staff to discuss which key elements should be included in the school food policy Develop a framework of activities for the school which are consistent with and supportive of the overall goal of improving health and well-being Ensure active pupil participation in decision management Form a School Nutrition Action Group (SNAG) or a sub-group from an existing steering group to take forward the actions identified within the food policy Aim to achieve National Healthy School status by working with your local Healthy Schools Programme. 1

2 Who would this benefit? A Whole School Food Policy can benefit pupils, staff, parents, caterers and others associated with your school and also help to satisfy section 2.3 of your Healthy Schools audit. FOOD POLICY AIMS To ensure that all aspects of food and nutrition in school promote the health and wellbeing of every member of our College community. To enable pupils to make healthy food choices through the provision of information and development of appropriate skills and attitudes. To ensure pupils are well nourished at school and that every pupil has access to safe, tasty and nutritious food and a safe, easily available water supply during the school day. To ensure that food provision in the school acknowledges the ethical and medical requirements of staff and pupils e.g. religious, vegetarian, medical and allergenic needs. To ensure that we highlight Fairtrade when ordering any products guaranteeing a better deal for third world producers. To put up posters/information informing pupils/staff of Fairtrade. FOOD POLICY CO-ORDINATOR This College food policy and healthy eating strategy is co-ordinated by Raymond Gunn: Director of Buildings and Facilities. CURRICULUM We regard healthy eating education as a whole-college issue, and we believe that opportunities to teach about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle occur throughout the curriculum. Healthy eating education forms an important part of our Colleges curriculum. The importance of balanced nutrition and healthy food choices is explicitly taught through the Science, D.T. and PHSE curriculum. This is further enriched through assemblies, special events, visitors and after school clubs. All pupils have the opportunity to learn about safe food preparation and to learn about where food has come from. Pupils learn about the requirements for plant growth, the food chain and the components of a healthy diet through the Science curriculum. FOOD AND DRINK PROVISIONTHROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL DAY SNACKS All pupils in each school are offered healthy snacks during morning breaks which have been agreed with our onsite caterers. 2

3 DRINKING WATER The National Nutritional Standards for Healthy School Lunches recommend that drinking water should be available to all pupils, everyday, and free of charge. All children are encouraged to bring in a water bottle so they can have access to water throughout the day. Water fountains are also provided in the schools and the restaurant for additional access to drinking water. SCHOOL DINNERS The hot meals service is offered through GLL caterers and we work closely with them to ensure a good range of healthy and tasty meals are provided. Each day a choice of salads and fresh fruit are offered as possible choices. A salad bar is available from which children can help themselves. No pupil is made to finish all the food that they are offered because we know that appetites vary from person to person. However, we do actively encourage the pupils to try a little bit more if they can, to ensure that they are not hungry later on in the day. There are strict guide lines determining the meals that are available through the course of the week and these are in accordance with the new Healthy Food Standards in Schools which came into force in The weekly school lunch menu is displayed on the Colleges notice boards and on the flat screen TVs in each school. The lunch menu is ed to the schools on a termly basis and made available on the school website for parents and children to discuss meal choices. Information about entitlement and how to claim free school dinners is available for parents/carers in the school office, the prospectus, and during initial interviews with parents/carers when children are admitted to the school. PACKED LUNCHES Pupils lunch boxes should offer balanced nutrition. Across a week parents/carers are encouraged to offer a variety of healthy foods for their children. Pupils are taught not to share packed lunches and parents/carers. Chocolate, sweets, biscuits, crisps, and cakes are actively discouraged as everyday snacks in school or as part of lunch boxes. Chewing gum and fizzy drinks are not permitted on the school premises or while the pupils are representing the school. SPECIAL EVENTS Special events such a Christmas parties in class are times where food contributes to a sense of celebration and sharing. On these occasions foods other than fruit or vegetables may be 3

4 offered, but the staff will remind the pupils that this is an occasional treat and not every day food. SPECIAL DIETARY REQUIREMENTS VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS College caterers offer a vegetarian option at lunch every day. When necessary the College also provides a vegan option. FOOD ALLERGY AND INTOLERANCE Individual care plans are created for pupils with food allergies. These document symptoms and adverse reactions, actions to be taken in an emergency, and emergency contact details. College caterers are made aware of any food allergies/food intolerance and requests for special diets are submitted according to an agreed process. Food containing nuts is not allowed in school. ENJOYING MEALTIMES It is important that pupils have a good lunchtime and see that enjoying food and eating meals with others contributes to a happy lifestyle. To achieve this we: Give the children time and space to eat in a calm and comfortable environment. Staff the dining room well with midday supervisors who assist the pupils. Enable pupils to sit in friendship groups promoting the idea that lunch times are a happy, social occasion. Pupils having packed lunches and school dinners sit together. Encourage pupils to develop good eating skills and table manners. Encourage pupils to try a wide range of foods at lunchtimes to develop a taste for a greater variety of foods and achieve a balanced diet. Expect pupils to enter and leave the dining hall in an orderly way to show respect for other diners. USE OF FOOD AS A REWARD The school does not encourage the regular eating of sweets or other foods high in sugar or fat, especially as a reward for good behaviour or academic or other achievements. Other methods of positive reinforcement are used in each school. THE ROLE OF THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGD AND FACILITIES It is the responsibility of the Director to: Ensure that staff and parent/carers are informed about the healthy eating policy, and that the policy is implemented effectively on the Colleges web site. Ensure that the catering staff is given sufficient training, so that they can work effectively. Liaise with external agencies regarding the healthy eating education programme and ensure that all adults who work with children on these issues are aware of the school policy and work within this framework. Liaise with GSS Caterers 4

5 Encourage teaching and learning about healthy eating. Oversee the content of the curriculum maps to ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to learn about healthy eating. Encourage positive role models amongst the staff by encouraging healthy options for staff treats such as fruit. THE ROLE OF PARENTS/CARERS The College is aware that the primary role model in children s healthy eating education lies with parents/carers. We wish to build a positive and supportive relationship with the parents/carers of pupils at our College through mutual understanding, trust and co-operation. In promoting this objective we will: Inform parents/carers about the school healthy eating education policy and practice. Inform parents/carers about the best practice known with regard to healthy eating so that the parents/carers can support the key messages being given to children at school. Discuss with parents/carers how we can jointly support their child if s/he is not eating much at lunchtimes. Parents can do this by going into the Parent pay web site, this giving information on what meals have been eaten each day by their child. THE ROLE OF GOVERNORS The governing body is responsible for monitoring the healthy eating policy. The Governors support the Principal in following guidelines from external agencies. Governors inform and consult with parents/carers about the healthy eating policy as required. FAIRTRADE Fairtrade is a simple way the College can help to make a difference; it s about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. Fairtrade aims to enable the poorest farmers and workers to improve their position and have more control over their lives. The College work with our caterers to ensure only products that are bought from 3 rd world countries have a fairtrade mark. Fairtrade.org.uk MONITORING AND EVALUATION The effective implementation of this policy will be monitored by the Director of Buildings and Facilities, the Principal and the governing body. The policy will be evaluated through a survey of the views of the whole school community, particularly the views of pupils. This takes place through School Council meetings. REVIEW Policy completed by: R.M.Gunn Date policy implemented: January 2013 Review Date: