HINCHINGBROOKE

SCHOOL

WHOLE SCHOOL FOOD POLICY

Drawn up by:                                              ALC

Date:                                                          November 2007

Date adopted by Governing Body:             14.11.07

Revised:          

HINCHINGBROOKE WHOLE SCHOOL FOOD POLICY

Introduction

In our school we are committed to giving all our pupils consistent messages about all aspects of health to help them understand the impact of particular behaviours and encourage them to take responsibility for the choices they make. This policy should be read alongside the school's Drug and Sex & Relationship Policies.

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?
•  

Rationale

At home children’s food choices might be influenced by the family, however food served at school should reflect our ethos on healthy lifestyle. We have the opportunity to reinforce the links between a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Hinchingbrooke is a health promoting school. It is important that we consider all elements of our work to ensure that we promote health awareness in all members of the school community. We can provide a valuable role model to pupils and their families with regard to food and healthy eating patterns.

Through effective leadership, the school ethos and the curriculum, all school staff can bring together all elements of the school day to create an environment which supports a healthy lifestyle.

There is huge publicity about children’s diets. Diets high in fat, sugar and salt are believed to contribute to the high obesity levels in young people. Many health professionals believe that some additives and colourings found in processed foods can dramatically change a child’s mood and behaviour in school. An inability to concentrate and causing disruption in school can be linked with certain additives.

The recent publication of the `Healthy living blueprint for schools’ and the White Paper on public health – chapter 3 ‘ children and young people’ outlines the expectations of schools in this area. Our commitment to National Healthy Schools Standard (NHSS) and our relationship with Cambridgeshire Health Promoting Schools imitative is indicative of the importance placed on healthy issues and our desire to continue to improve standards.

Aim            

To ensure that the food ethos and school food provided supports and in no way conflicts with the healthy eating messages taught across the curriculum. This policy aims to outline how we as a school can facilitate learning about making healthier food choices and how they impact on the quality of lifestyle. This policy should introduce and promote practices to support our aims and remove or discourage practices which negate them.

Objectives

• To ensure that we are giving consistent messages about food and health
• To give our pupils the information they need to make healthy choices
• To develop an understanding of the relationship between food and health awareness
• To contribute to the healthy physical development of all members of our school community
• Increase food knowledge (nutrition, practical food skills, hygiene, shopping and budgeting)

Settings for Food Policy

We do not use vending machines in our school. Currently we do not run a tuck shop but if we decide to do so in the future, the Food Policy will be applied to all items sold.

Breakfast club

Two Breakfast Clubs operate on a daily basis in the school for all students. In Learning Support we target some children who we know have little or no time for breakfast in the mornings at home.

The food offered is healthy and is consistent with a healthy diet. We provide toast, bread (range of options including white, brown, granary, buns, baps and rolls), low fat spread, fruit jam, marmite, yoghurt, low salt/low sugar fortified cereals, slices of fresh fruit, baked beans and cheese.  Students choose from water, orange juice and apple juice to drink.

School lunches and packed lunches

All our school meals are provided by in house catering who conform to the Government School meals guidelines.  This includes the use of fresh fruit and vegetables each day as a choice for the students. They provide a hot and cold option, both of which pay regard to nutritional balance and healthy options.

Many children bring packed lunch to school. Students are encouraged to bring healthy foods in their lunchbox. In their PD Food module they have the opportunity to prepare foods for a healthy lunchbox.

Water for all

Cooled water is freely available throughout the school day to all members of the school community. No water fountains are located inside toilet blocks. Every child has been provided with a free bottle to store their water in.  Students may drink their water in most lessons apart from those using equipment, eg science, ICT, etc. Regular water and brain breaks are built into the school day and curriculum by class teachers. Water is provided in all food outlets.

Food across the Curriculum

Science provides an opportunity to learn about the types of food available, their nutritional composition, digestion and the function of different nutrients in contributing to health and how the body responds to exercise.

Food as part of a creative carousel/option at KS3 provides the opportunity to learn about food and apply healthy eating messages through practical work with food, including preparation and cooking. Students are also taught about Food Safety.

PD encourages young people to take responsibility for their own health and well-being, teaches them how to develop a healthy lifestyle and addresses issues such as body image. Pupils are able to discuss issues of interest to young people, eg advertising and sustainable development.

Physical Education provides pupils with the opportunity to develop physically and to understand the practical impact of sport, exercise and other physical activity such as dance and walking.

Partnership with parents and carers

The partnership of home and school is critical in shaping how children and young people behave, particularly where health is concerned. Each must reinforce the other. This is not always easy but our school is well placed to lead by example.

Parents and carers are regularly updated on our water and food policy through our website and parentmail. We ask parents not to send in fizzy drinks and we remind them that only water may be drunk during the school day, except at lunch when children may drink juice or squash.

During out of school events, eg school discos etc, the school will encourage parents and carers to consider the Food Policy in the range of refreshments offered for sale to the students.

Role of the Governors

Governors monitor and check that the school policy is upheld and can also offer guidance where a member of the body has particular expertise in this area.

Monitoring and review

The Breakfast Club Manager is responsible for ensuring that the food served is in accordance with this policy. Keystage Managers and Subject Managers are responsible for the curriculum development of the Food Policy. The Deputy Headteacher Ethos and PD co-cordinator are responsible for supporting colleagues in the delivery of the Food Policy. Hinchingbrooke Catering is responsible for ensuring the quality of the food offered as part of their contract to provide food in school

This policy will be reviewed annually to take account of new developments.