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Introduction

At Alderman Jacobs School we aim to promote healthy eating through:

·         Specific teaching in subjects including Science, PE and PSHCE.

·         Consultation with the School Nurse.

·         Newsletters and information leaflets.

·         Our Health Promoting Schools Initiative.

During the school day, children can bring both a snack for morning breaktime and a packed meal for lunch or they can have a school dinner. 

Through the adoption of this policy we hope to encourage parents/carers to support our aims and to recognise that a balanced diet consists of a variety of foods selected from the main food groups.

Lunches and break time snacks

In 2002, all parents and children received questionnaires related to the types of break time snacks that should be brought into school.  The over-riding consensus of opinion was for the school to adopt a no-sweet policy during the school day.  As a result, in the summer term 2003 it was agreed that, if a child brings sweets into school, they will be asked to put them away and to eat them only once they have left the school premises. 

The children are given the opportunity to buy milk and low sugar cookies or milk and a fruit pot (3 pieces of cut up fruit in a pot) at break times at a cost of 22p.  Cambridgeshire Catering Services support the Health Promoting Schools initiative at Alderman Jacobs School by providing a range of healthier cookie recipes, for example, ginger biscuits and wholemeal shortbread.  Milk is delivered daily and stored in a dedicated fridge before being sold at break time.

In spring term 2003 the school council designed a competition to encourage children to bring healthy snacks into school for break times.  Each type of snack is awarded points (the more healthy snacks are awarded more points).  The class with the most points at the end of each week receives a certificate in assembly.  The class with most points at the end of each term receives a reward.

All children at Alderman Jacobs School have the opportunity to go home for lunch or to remain at school.   When pupils stay at school during the lunch break for packed lunch we encourage parents to provide a balanced meal and we reinforce this principle in newsletters.

Cambridgeshire Catering Service promotes healthy eating and the need for a balanced diet by planning school menus that give children a range of healthy options, including fruit, vegetable and salad choices every day taken from the primary schools compulsory nutritional standards (see appendix 1 and 2).

Drinking water is available throughout the day from drinking fountains in every year group. Children are encouraged to bring water bottles into school.  These can be kept with them during class time so that they have access to water at all times of the day.  Water bottles are sold from the Reception area at £1each.  Children are encouraged to take responsibilities for their bottles and to keep them clean by taking them home to wash each night.

Health and Safety

·         Through school newsletters, parents/carers are reminded of the need to keep food at the correct temperature and therefore we suggest the use of insulated lunch box/cool bags.

·         Before eating, all children are asked by their midday supervisors or teachers to wash their hands.

·         Sweets, fizzy drinks and hot drinks are not permitted.

·         Uneaten food is to be returned to the parents/carers in a child’s lunch box.

·         At the end of the lunch break, all of the dining tables are cleaned thoroughly in preparation for use the next day.

Curriculum

Children will learn about what constitutes a balanced diet and the health and safety aspects of food preparation and storage through the Science, Design Technology and PSHCE curriculum as they progress through the school.  For more information, please see the policy documents for these subjects.

Monitoring and Evaluation

School staff will monitor the effectiveness of the Healthy Eating Policy by:

·         Monitoring mid-morning snack provision.

·         Ensuring that there is positive promotion of healthy eating throughout the school.

The overall responsibility for monitoring and evaluation lies with the Health Education Co-ordinator.

Co-ordinator

The PSHCE co-ordinator, Mrs Sally Hooke, will keep up to date with local and national initiatives, disseminating information to all members of the school community.

Health Promoting Schools working party, with the guidance of Rachel Cooke, Dietician working for the local health authority

Policy adopted ~ Summer term 2003

Policy Review Date ~ 2005

Sample Menus                                                                                                                                 

Primary Schools Nutritional Standards

The primary schools compulsory nutritional standards were brought into effect in April 2001.

One item from each of the following four groups must be served daily.

Fruit and vegetable group

either fresh, frozen, canned, dried or juice.

Weekly            A fruit based desert should be served twice weekly (e.g. Apple Crumble,

 Chelsea Bun).

Carbohydrate and starches

Daily               This includes bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, noodles and canned pasta

in tomato sauce.

Weekly            Starchy foods cooked in oil or fat should not be served more than

three times a week.  This includes chips, jacket wedges, potato smiles,

potato speedsters, hash browns, pomme noisettes, roast potatoes,

potato waffles, diced potatoes, sauté potatoes and potato croquettes.

Meat, fish and other sources of protein group

Daily               This includes meat and fish in all forms (fresh, frozen, canned or dried),

eggs, nuts, pulses and beans.

Weekly            Red meat should be served twice a week (includes burgers and sausages). 

Fish should be served at least once a week.  It is recommended that

cheese should only be served once a week as the main vegetarian option.

Milk and dairy foods group

Daily               This includes milk, cheese, yoghurt, milkshake and custard.

Weekly            Ice cream should not be served more than twice a week.   

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