Food & Healthy Eating Policy

Revision History

Version Date Comments Review Date
8 Summer 2017 Amended, approved and issued Summer 2018
7 Summer 2015 Amended, approved and issued Summer 2017
6 Summer 2013 Amended, approved and issued Summer 2015
5 May 2011 Amended, approved and issued Summer 2013
4 June 2009 Amended, approved and issued June 2011
3 October 2007 Approved and issued October 2009
2 December 2006 Approved and issued December 2007
1 December 2006 First draft

Introduction and Context for policy

St John’s Primary school is committed to being a healthy school and aims to promote the health and wellbeing of the school community. As part of this we aim to help our pupils understand the consequences, and to develop the skills to take responsibility for the choices they make.  This policy supports one of the Every Child Matters outcomes – Being Healthy.

 Other relevant policies

  • PSHCE
  • Drug Education
  • Sex and Relationship Education
  • Physical Education

Aims

  • To ensure that all aspects of food and nutrition in the school help to promote the health and well-being of the whole school community.

Objectives

  • To ensure that food provided across the school day is consistent with our aim and meets the new mandatory standards, covering all school food, introduced from September 2006.
  • To ensure that food and nutrition information across the curriculum, and in extra curricular activities, is consistent and up-to-date.
  • To ensure that the whole school community is involved in the implementation of this policy.

Settings for Food Policy across the School Day

  • Break time Provision of fruit or vegetables for every child, currently children aged 4-7 are provided with free fruit by the government initiative scheme. KS2 children have the remainder as they come into class and nursery have access to free fruit/vegetables throughout the day.
  • School lunches – The school meal service has introduced the Fitzy Fox & Food Friends and other healthy eating initiatives which the school actively promote.

Many children bring a packed lunch to school, we believe that it should form part of children’s well-balanced diet. To support parents we regularly include information and ideas about the contents of these in newsletters and on our website. We do not allow children to have fizzy drinks and encourage every child to have at least 1 portion of fruit and 1 of vegetables each day.  Children may purchase milk at KS1 & KS2 – free milk is provided for under 5’s and children who receive free school meals

  • Water provision Pupils are encouraged to drink water throughout the day and teachers act as role models. They are provided with named water bottles in KS1/KS2. We have point of use water freely available and water bottles are filled daily and washed and sterilised weekly.
  • Consistent messages – At fund raising discos, Christmas Parties and other celebrations “no added sugar” drinks are used, and low calorie options are available. Monitors are sometimes rewarded with fruit.
  • Birthdays – Parents are not allowed to provide sweets/cakes at birthdays but instead they can buy a book for their child’s class library. The child’s name is then written on the inside of the front cover. 

Teaching about food and nutrition

The overall aim of our teaching about food and nutrition is to help children learn about, and to enjoy food. The Balance of Good Health Model is used as the basis to teach about healthy eating within the curriculum.

Within the formal curriculum-

  • e.g. KS1 Science
    Design and Technology
    Literacy
    PSHCE
  • e.g. KS2 Science
    Design and Technology
    L
    iteracy
    PSHCE
  • Cross curricular work
    Extra-curricular activities
  • Eco Warriors including a gardening and growing club and recycling group. The school has planters for growing fruit and vegetables.  The produce grown is then either cooked and eaten by the children or sold to parents in order to fund the following year’s stock.
  • Special events, such as Food Week and Healthy Lifestyles Week.
  • Various food topics – Cooking club.
  • Food for life days/healthy cooking and baking clubs.

Inclusion

All children are included and care is taken to deal sensitively with any children with food allergies and with over-weight pupils.

Continuing Professional Development of staff

Opportunities for staff development in food are identified in the school development plan. Two staff are trained to deliver “cook and eat” family sessions and the majority have passed their Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate which is updated every 3 years.

Partnerships- who we work with on food issues in schools

  • School Council
  • City Catering
  • Dietician, School Health Advisor, School Nurse
  • Parents and Carers, pupils [via the School Council] staff
  • Governors – who have had an input into this policy
  • Partnership school, Food for Life
  • lovebritishfood.co.uk

Monitoring and Evaluation

To be carried out by the head teacher PSHCE/HPS staff.

Future plans

To further develop cooking in the curriculum.  HSLW regularly gives information to familes re healthy packed lunches and this will be regularly monitored and updated.

Additional notes

  • The Bronze Food for Life award has been gained and the school is looking to achieve the Silver.
  • Silver award for “Green Flag Award” has been achieved in 2016 following the ECO schools silver award.
  • Any other related awards or projects g. Eco Schools Silver Award.
  • This policy document was produced in consultation with the pupils, parents, staff and governors of St John’s.

Food & Healthy Eating Policy – Version 8 – Summer 2017