Here is what St Mark's have done: 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 PSHCE, drug, and sex and relationship policies. The school supports the '5-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 and preventing childhood obesity. 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:
Rationale 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. Aims and Objectives
Settings for food policy Breakfast club 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 (occasionally including Cocopops/Sugarpuffs as a choice), slices of fresh fruit, baked beans and cheese. Children choose from water, orange juice and apple juice to drink. Snack School lunches and packed lunches Many children bring packed lunch to school. We regularly include newsletter items about the contents of these and we do not allow sweets, chocolate bars (although we do allow chocolate covered biscuits at present) or fizzy drinks. Water for all Food across the Curriculum Literacy provides children with the opportunity to explore poetry, persuasion, argument and narrative work using food and food-related issues as a stimulus, e.g. writing to a company to persuade them to use non-GM foods in children's food and drink etc. Maths can offer the possibility of understanding nutrition labelling, calculating quantities for recipes, weighing and measuring ingredients. 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. RE provides the opportunity to discuss the role of certain foods in the major religions of the world. Children experience different foods associated with religious festivals. ICT can afford pupils the opportunity to research food issues using the internet and other electronic resources. Pupils design packaging and adverts to promote healthy food choices. Food Technology as part of DT provides the opportunity to learn about where food comes from and apply healthy-eating messages through practical work with food, including preparation and cooking. PSHCE 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, e.g. advertising and sustainable development. Music can provide pupils with knowledge about different properties of cooked and uncooked foods where pulses and grains are used in unpitched percussion instruments. Geography provides a focus on the natural world and changing environment, offering the chance to consider the impact our consumer choices have on people across the world who rely on growing food as their source of income. History provides insight into changes in diet and food over time. 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. School visits provide pupils with activities to enhance their physical development, e.g. to activity centres. Out-of-hours learning includes cookery and gardening clubs from time to time. Partnership with parents and carers Parents and carers are regularly updated on our water and packed-lunch policies through school and class newsletters. 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, e.g. 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 children. Role of the Governors Monitoring and review This policy will be reviewed annually to take account of new developments. |
Schools >