NEWPORT COMMUNITY SCHOOL HEALTHY EATING POLICY Policy Statement This policy document sets out the School s aims, principles and strategies for the delivery of Healthy Eating Education in our school. Context Newport Community School is a community primary school for girls and boys aged 3-11. The school presently has 444 children on roll who come from both single and dual parent families. In each year there are a few children identified with special educational needs. There is a wide social mix and very varied family backgrounds. The school covers urban residential areas and also has pupils who travel in from local villages Policy formation and consultation process The children s lifestyle in terms of healthy eating and exercise was brought up as a concern by a number of Staff. The Head Teacher attended a meeting run by DDS concerning the Fresh Start school meals initiative in October 2005. In November 2005 a questionnaire was sent out to parents giving them an opportunity to voice their thoughts on school dinners and packed lunches. Later in November, the initiative was forwarded to staff for discussion during a staff meeting and it was agreed that the scheme should be implemented in school. The Fresh Start scheme and the concern over the nutritional value of the children s packed lunches was discussed during a full governing body meeting in November 2005 From this meeting and after consultation with staff, it was agreed that children with packed lunches should only have one item of chocolate in their lunch box. This was to be monitored by Meal Time Assistants as well as Teaching Staff on duty. Children from Reception to Year 3 also have to have their packed lunch checked before they leave the dinner hall to ensure they have had enough to eat and drink. This policy has also been written in line with the Every Child Matters agenda with its five key outcomes of: Being healthy Staying safe Enjoying and achieving Making a positive contribution Economic well-being
Aims Newport Community School recognises the important connection between a healthy diet and a pupil s ability to learn effectively and achieve high standards in school. The school also recognises the role the school can play, as part of the wider community, to promote family health. The school aims to: Improve the health of pupils and staff, and their families by helping to influence their eating habits through increasing their knowledge and awareness of food issues, including what constitutes a healthy and environmentally sustainable diet, and hygienic food preparation and storage methods 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 Present consistent, informed messages about healthy eating within school through all school practices Ensure that food provision in the school reflects the medical and ethical requirements of pupils and staff for example medical, allergenic, religious, ethnic and vegetarian needs Ensure the provision and consumption of food is an enjoyable and safe experience Have 100% of pupils bringing in fruit to eat during the 15 minute morning break. Promote the children s awareness of the importance of a safe and healthy lifestyle. The school will work towards these aims in partnership with the parents/carers. Curriculum Management Food and nutrition education forms part of the formal curriculum through Science, RE, geography, PSHE and Citizenship, and DT. The food and nutrition education element of the science, geography, RE, PSHE and Citizenship, and DT programmes will reflect the school's over-arching aims, and demonstrate and encourage the following values: respect for self respect for others responsibility for their own actions responsibility for their family, friends. school and wider community The food and nutrition element within the PSHE and Citizenship programme falls within the following Health For Life strands: Healthy Lifestyles knowing which foods keep us healthy, the importance of a balanced diet.
Active citizens recognising that as we get older we have more responsibility over what we choose to eat. Having an understanding that a healthy lifestyle is partly our own responsibility and as we grow older we can also influence others. Health and safety developing a healthy, safer lifestyle. Relationships developing good relationships and respecting the differences between people. Other school policies which have relevance to food and nutrition are: PSHE and Citizenship Medical DT Health and Safety Science Early Years PE Equal Opportunities Geography Teaching and learning RE Equal Opportunities Newport Community School is committed towards equal opportunities in all aspects of school life. All resources used and teaching and learning will support this commitment. Ethnic and cultural diversity and medical issues Different ethnic and cultural groups may have different attitudes to Healthy Eating. The school will consult pupils and parents/carers about their needs, take account of their views and promote respect for, and understanding of, the views of different ethnic and cultural groups. We recognise that children may also have specific dietary requirements linked to medical issues. These will also be taken into account and pupils parents/carers will be consulted about their needs. The school has published a list of children s dietary requirements and this can be found in the front of all registers. Curriculum Content The food and nutrition element of the formal curriculum will be co-ordinated by the co-ordinators for Science, PSHE and citizenship, and DT Topics and themes will be revisited from year to year in accordance to the schemes of work and will take pupil s development into account. The content of the Healthy Eating education programme including learning outcomes will be based on the recommended education curriculum programme 'Health for Life' as a framework. At Newport Community School, Healthy Eating is delivered through a variety of approaches which include:
Topic work planned aspects of PSHE, science, DT, geography and RE assembly time visiting speakers and presentations pastoral time e.g. circle time fruit time story time through the personal, social and emotional development area of learning in the foundation stage family group mornings introduction of the Fresh Start Menu for school dinners through extra-curricular activities e.g. Aerobics club, drama club, cookery club, class trips and residential trips through special projects e.g. healthy eating sessions, tasting sessions, competitions Specific Issues Fruit time The 15 minute morning break session for KS1 and KS2 is fruit time. Each child brings in a piece of fruit from home and eats it during 15 minutes. It is in the School Action Plan that in the near future children will spend 10 minutes outside playing and then 5 minutes in the classroom eating and talking socially. Staff also eat fruit during this time, therefore providing positive role models for the children. Breakfast Club The school provides a breakfast club which runs from 8.00am until 8.50am. Cereal, toast (with various choices of toppings) milk, water, juice (apple or orange) and squash are all on offer every day. After School Club The school also has an After School Club facility where children can stay until 6pm. The children are fed a snack during their time at the club. There is always a plate of chopped fruit and salad to choose from. The children vote for a fruit of the week. The most popular fruit is on the fruit plate every day for the following week. The children also have the opportunity to make themselves a sandwich or have toast. Drinks are made readily available. School Meal Provision School meal provision is run by D.D.S and the Fresh Start Menus have recently been put into place. School meal provision meets government nutritional standards. A taster session was provided for children and parents when the Fresh Start scheme began in school. Food is provided which meets the ethnic, allergenic, vegetarian, religious and medical needs of staff and pupils. Salad, fruit and vegetables are available daily for all. The school is working with the school meal providers to increase the number of
healthier school dinner options. Water jugs are provided for children eating school dinners and packed lunches. Menus are on display in the school newsletter which is sent out weekly. Staff eat regularly with the children to promote good manners and encourage positive eating habits. The school council have questioned children across school on their views of school dinner provision Regular meetings are held between the catering manager and the head to ensure a good working relationship where the catering environment and the food provision are reviewed. Packed Lunches Parents/carers are encouraged to provide healthy packed lunches for their children. Fizzy drinks, and sweets are not permitted in packed lunches or as snacks and only one item of chocolate is permitted in packed lunches. Healthy packed lunch suggestions are given during Friday achievement Assembly and a certificate is given to one child every week who has been seen by staff on duty as having a Healthy Packed Lunch. Ideas for healthy packed lunches are also given in monthly newsletters and parents are reminded of the Healthy Eating policy during Year Group Induction evenings at the beginning of each new school year. All packed lunches are stored away from direct sunlight. Pupils are encouraged to bring packed lunches in a cool bag. Water Provision All pupils have access to drinking water at all times. There are 2 drinking stations around school and children are encouraged to bring in their own water bottle to have in class which they can access all day. Water is also available during sport activities. Milk Provision Milk is supplied for pupils in the Nursery. A fridge is provided for its safe storage. Cookery Club It is hoped that a cookery club with be set up as an extra-curricular activity in the near future where children will have the opportunity to prepare and cook healthy meals and snacks. Cooking in class. As part of the integrated curriculum, cookery takes a part of many subject areas. Small groups are taken to the cookery area where they are not only preparing the food but will also talk about hygiene and safety when cooking. The cooking area has a set of health and safety rules which are clearly displayed for adult and children.
Tasting different foods also features regularly in the curriculum where children are encouraged to try something new. Sponsorship The school considers carefully the messages being sent out to the pupils before becoming involved in any sponsorship scheme. Schemes which require the consumption of large amounts of fatty or sugary snacks are not promoted. The school is currently collecting Active Kids vouchers from Sainsbury s where purchasing fruit and vegetables results in vouchers being given. These vouchers can then be exchanged for PE equipment. Free School Meal Provision The school encourages all families entitled to free school meal provision to access this assistance. Monitoring of uptake is undertaken confidentially. Hygiene Pupils are encouraged to wash their hands after going to the toilet and before handling food. All government regulations appertaining to food hygiene are complied with by food service providers. Cleaning and disinfectant schedules are regularly inspected by the Health and safety co-ordinator and the catering service provider. Staff employed in food preparation hold a basic food and hygiene certificate. At present all members of staff involved in the provision of food and nutrition are supported by an in-service training programme. An independent food hygiene inspection of food storage, meal preparation and food serving areas is carried out annually. The water supply is regularly tested. Allergies Parents/carers inform the school if a pupil suffers from an allergy, identifying the foods to which s/he reacts and the usual symptoms of the reaction. To ensure all staff, including supply staff, are aware of pupil allergies a list of class health problems is found in the front of every class register. Pupils with allergies are also identified on kitchen, staff and office notice boards. All staff members are aware of the school s medical, and health and safety procedures. Food poisoning In the event of a food poisoning outbreak advice will be sought from the LEA Health and safety department and the local environmental health office. Outside Organisations Outside organisations will be used to support and assist the teachers in the development of the classroom based work. If the school or a parent has any concerns regarding a specific pupil the head will initially seek advice from the school nurse
Assessment, recording and reporting Food and nutrition elements within the science curriculum are formally assessed. Class teachers are required to complete an assessment sheet at the end of the unit of study. The evaluation sheet is provided and analysed by the science co-ordinator. Newport Community School is keen to recognise and promote pupil s achievements in a wide range of activities and events. Differentiation A range of strategies will be employed to allow what is being taught and how it is presented to be accessible to the children s individual abilities. Differentiation may be by task, by support or by content. Health and safety The school aims to provide a safe and healthy working environment for all pupils and staff and ensures as far as possible that they are not exposed to risks to their health and safety. In the planning of practical activities, teachers will take into account any likely safety issues. Audience All staff members and governors will receive a copy of this policy. Several copies are available to view at the secretary s office upon request, and a short summary of this policy will be included in the school prospectus. Reviewing the Policy The policy will be reviewed regularly using a consultative process including teachers and non-teaching staff; meal time assistants, children; parents/carers and governors on food and nutrition provision and Healthy Eating education within the whole school community.