EMPHASIS ON FOOD AND HEALTH
Food in Schools Programme
FiS programme background
The FiS Programme has strong links to the overall 5 A DAY Programme, including the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, other DH diet and nutrition priorities set out in the NHS Plan, and the cross-Government Food and Health Action Plan on sustainable farming and food. The output of the FiS Programme will have particular value to schools as they work towards the healthy eating strand of the National Healthy Schools Standard.
The Need for the Food in Schools Programme
The FiS Programme will help to ensure children have access to healthy food choices in schools. By introducing this Programme which follows children through the school day, we will lay the foundations to help prevent obesity and disease later in life.
The FiS Programme will also contribute to the priority areas for reducing coronary heart disease, cancer and health inequalities.
The Programme is developing a whole range of nutrition-related activities and projects in schools to complement and add value to the wide variety of other initiatives in schools. The output of the FiS Programme will be of particular value to schools working towards the healthy eating strand of the National Healthy Schools Standard.
The DH-led strand of the FiS Programme
The DH-led strand of the FiS Programme comprised eight pilot projects which follow the child through the school day. It complemented, but is outside of the formal curriculum. The projects were distributed across the nine English regions.
The projects were healthier breakfast clubs, tuck shops, vending machines, lunch boxes and cookery clubs as well as water provision, growing clubs and the dining room environment.
Pilot Projects |
Region |
Water Provision |
East Midlands and the North East |
Dining Room Environment |
Yorkshire and Humber |
Healthy Cookery Clubs |
South East |
Healthy Vending |
East of England |
Growing Clubs |
London |
Healthier Tuck Shops |
South West |
Healthier Lunchboxes |
West Midlands |
Healthier Breakfast Clubs |
North West |
The pilot projects ran in over 300 schools across England. They built on good practice and consulted children, schools, caterers and other key stakeholders on issues such as healthier product choice, marketing, barriers to success, curriculum links and resource issues. Stakeholder involvement and input was vital to the success of the Programme, with sustainability and ease of implementation also key.
The East Midlands Pilot
The Water Provision guidance has been informed by the project, piloted in 40 schools in the East Midlands and North East Region.
The findings from the pilot projects were extremely positive and the guidance will support your school in reviewing and improving current provision and in promoting water consumption.
There was strong evidence that the project was successful in increasing levels of water consumption. 82% of primary and 65% of secondary schools in the water provision pilot reported increased consumption of water. Preference for drinking water over other drinks rose by 1.6 times in primary and 1.4 times in secondary schools where preference for carbonated drinks fell. Teachers also reported that the enhanced water provision contributed to a more settled and productive learning environment, as well as helping instil good habits.
Useful Links
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http://www.water.org.uk/ |
The Food in Schools Toolkit
The interactive Food in Schools Toolkit provides a wide range guidance, resources and interactive tools to inspire and support you in taking a whole school approach to healthy eating and drinking. It covers healthier breakfast clubs, healthier cookery clubs, healthier lunch boxes, growing clubs, dining room environment, water provision, healthier tuck shops and healthy vending machines.
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For more information on the Food in Schools Toolkit contact your local Healthy Schools Coordinator (www.lhsp.org/)
Outputs and dissemination
The results of all eight pilot projects will be brought together in a 'whole school approach' and from the beginning of 2005 was made available to schools across England from the beginning of 2005 to assist them in providing a wider range of healthier foods for pupils.
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The DfES-led strand of the FiS Programme
The DfES strand of the FiS Programme comprises eight curriculum focused projects which cover teacher training and professional development, as well as development of guidelines, resources and curriculum materials.
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The DfES projects
In the DfES strand of the Food in Schools programme, primary and secondary schools are encouraged to look at all aspects of food during the school day through an 'audit' and to develop whole school food policies. Schools are also encouraged to set up local food partnerships, where secondary food specialists train and support their primary colleagues, helping them to work towards the National Healthy Schools Standard
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Establishing a Whole School Food Policy. Bringing together messages about food throughout the school day (British Nutrition Foundation) |
Other useful links
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