Aim

To ensure that all aspects of food and drink in school promote the health and wellbeing of pupils, staff and visitors to Crampton Primary School.

Contents

The Whole School Food Policy is a shared, evolving document for all stakeholders that interact with our school. It expresses a common vision of the ethos, status and role of all aspects of food at Crampton Primary School. It encourages all aspects of food to be brought together, clearly, coherently and consistently.

It should include:

• The formal curriculum e.g. subjects (design and technology, science, personal, social and health education, citizenship), equipment and resources, ingredient provision (where possible) and continuing professional development for staff.
•  Extra-curricular activities, e.g. cookery club
• Participation in national events and initiatives e.g. National School Fruit Scheme, Food Standards & School Food Matters
• Provision of all food at school e.g. breakfast club, school lunch & fluid consumption.
• Consumption of food at school e.g. eating environment, service style, time, pupils bringing food to schools and packed lunches (including information to parents).
• Events at school e.g. school fairs.

Introduction

As part of the School Food Plan, a new set of standards for all food served in schools was launched by the Department for Education. These standards are mandatory for all maintained schools.

These school food standards are intended to help children develop healthy eating habits and ensure they obtain the energy and nutrition they need across the whole school day, which includes food provided for breakfasts, mid-morning snacks, lunch and after school clubs.

The standards do not apply to:

• Parties or celebrations to mark religious or cultural occasions
• Fund raising events
• Rewards for achievement, good behaviour or effort
• For use in teaching food preparation and cookery skills, including where the food prepared is served to pupils as part of a school lunch
• On an occasional basis by parents or pupils
• Food and drinks provided after 6pm, or during weekends or school holidays

For more information, please refer to:

• The DFE Standards for School Food in England (updated 2021) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standards-for-school-food-in-england  
• The DFE School Food Standards – Resources for schools including a practical guide, checklists , portion sizes and allergy information (updated 2021) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-food-standards-resources-for-schools
• The School Food Plan – provides a range of resources including recipes ideas, portion sizes and learning from others https://www.schoolfoodplan.com/

Rationale

This policy has been formulated to enable Crampton Primary School to develop a shared philosophy on all aspects of food and drink. Its key aim is to develop healthy eating and drinking activities within the school that benefit pupils, staff, parents, caterers and others associated with the school. It has been developed in conjunction with our Every Child Matters and other relevant policies.

Our school supports the ‘five a day’ campaign to encourage children to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, which has been shown to reduce the onset of certain life threatening conditions as well as being helpful in tackling childhood obesity.

Definition

Our school defines healthy eating as providing the body with well-balanced, nutritional food, which will ensure good health and well-being. We aim to give children the skills they need to make healthy choices that will stay with them throughout their lives.

Objectives

To ensure:

• All aspects of food and drink in school promote the health and well-being of pupils, staff and visitors.
• Pupils have the basic knowledge to formulate life-long skills e.g. cookery workshop, gardening club.
• Our pupils have the information they need to make healthy choices

 To promote:

• A well-balanced and healthy lifestyle.
• A welcoming eating environment to encourage the positive social interaction of staff and pupils. The school recognises that sharing food is an excellent opportunity to build relationships and promote good social skills.
• A healthy physical development of all members of our school community.
• The important connection between a healthy, balanced diet and a child’s ability to learn effectively.

Specific Aspects of Food in Schools

Water

Children are actively encouraged to bring their own bottles for water as well as water taps / fountains located in the playground. Water is freely available throughout the day to all members of the school community. Regular opportunities are given to drink water; children are reminded and encouraged to drink water at break times.

Nut-free school

Due to the risk to those who have an intolerance to and / or serious allergic reactions to nuts, Crampton makes every effort to be a nut-free school. This is enforced, as well as possible, in school through a ban on nuts and nut products. However, the practicalities of policing all food on the premises make this very difficult. Off the premises, on a school trip for example, pupils with these allergies must take their Epipens with them and be supported by a member of staff  who is capable of helping to administer it. All members of staff who accompany children on school trips have all had training in the use of Epipens.

Allergies

Lunchtime staff are aware of children who have allergies; this is recorded on an ‘Allergy sheet’. Those serving children hot lunches must refer to the sheet, ensuring all children are catered for.

School Lunches

The in-house catering team provides school lunches; all meals must meet the new nutritional government guidelines for school catering. All food is cooked fresh and daily, on site.

Dining Environment

 The school is committed to providing a welcoming eating environment to encourage the positive social interaction of pupils and teachers. It is recognised that the physical constraints mean we operate a number of sittings, limiting the time available for serving and eating school dinners and packed lunches. Despite this constraint, the school will aim to provide a calm, ordered environment - conducive to enjoyable eating and good manners.

The school is also committed to:

• Helping children where necessary e.g. opening of packets, carrying trays.
• Encouraging children to eat as much of their dinner as is appropriate with a focus on eating their fruit and vegetables before dessert.
• Monitoring wasted food.
• Supervising children having school dinners and packed lunches
• Providing water jugs and clean cups on every table. - Encouraging children to wash their hands before eating.

Packed Lunches

The Food Standards Agency survey of packed lunchboxes showed that in general children’s lunchboxes contained too much salt, fat and sugar and too little fruit and vegetables. Our School encourages parents and children to pack healthy lunchboxes and provides information and guidance on balanced meals with plenty of fruit and vegetables, bread and protein. Food not eaten in a packed lunch should be sent home to ensure parents are aware of how much has been eaten.

Morning Snack

Pupils are given the opportunity to have a piece of fruit or vegetable as part of morning snack.  Children in Key Stage 1 are entitled to one piece of fruit or vegetable provided by the school as part of the National School Fruit Scheme.

Milk is provided for Pupil Premium children or those who purchase it through cool milk.

Birthdays

We are aware that many parents like to celebrate their child’s birthday in school, as well as at home, however, we do not allow any cake or sweets into school.

Celebrations and Festivals

The school recognises that food plays an important role in the celebration of different cultures and religious festivals. As part of our curriculum, children will have the opportunity to experience foods significant to different countries and beliefs.

Food in the Curriculum

The significance of food in our lives mean it can and should be used to enrich the curriculum, in turn, the curriculum can enrich pupil’s experience of food and healthy eating. The curriculum offers opportunities for children to experience food from different countries and cultures as well as reinforcing the need for a healthy, balanced diet. Each year group will study a unit on Healthy Eating and are encouraged to use what they have learnt to make informed decision about what they are eating.

Out of School Activities

On special occasions, e.g. Christmas fair, we accept that a wider range of confectionery, drinks and crisps may be available, with parental supervision. However, we will encourage the ‘Friends of Crampton’ to consider this Food Policy, especially with regard to quality and choice.

Values

At Crampton Primacy School, we strive to work together as a whole community, sharing our ideas and beliefs and all working for the ultimate good of the children in our care. We aim to show respect for each other and ourselves and this is demonstrated by the empowerment we give to our children from an early age. We aim to give children information so that they are able to make sensible choices over food. Our School Council ensures that children’s voices are heard so that policies like this remain relevant and new ideas are brought forward.

Roles and Responsibilities

 It is extremely important that the whole school is united in providing the children with the correct information about healthy eating. We need to give consistent messages about the importance of a healthy, well-balanced diet and regular exercise, within lessons and extra-curricular activities.

Communication of this Policy

This document is freely available to the entire school community and located in the policy documentation files located in the school reception area as well as on the school website.