School name:
Healthy Eating
This guide aims to support schools working on the priority area of Healthy Eating within the local Healthy Schools Health and Wellbeing Improvement Model. It follows the whole school approach and is intended as a prompt to help set milestones for reaching the meaningful outcomes.
Context
To develop children’s and young peoples’ understanding of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle in relation to healthy eating and physical activity.
Meaningful Outcomes:
Examples of measurable quantitative outcomes
- Increase the amount of children who bring in a balanced packed lunch
- Decrease the number of children bringing in high sugar/fat snacks in lunchboxes
- Decrease the number of sugary drinks consumed outside school
Examples of measurable qualitative outcomes
- Increase the number of children who feel they have a healthy/balanced diet
- Increase the number of children who think they eat 5 lots of fruit and vegetables each day
- Increase the amount of children who like the food provided in school
- Increase the number of children who feel happy to eat in the dining area
- Increase in % children who report eating ‘5 a day’
Examples of measurable targeted outcomes
- Decrease the amount of sugary drinks consumed by year 3 children
- Increase the number of healthy snacks consumed by F1 pupils
- To increase the take-up of free school meals amongst those who are entitled to them
- Increase the numbers of Year 6 pupils who know about having a balanced diet and physical activity
- Increase the number of children in foundation who know they should eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day
Whole School Element / Evidence of Good Practice / Notes
1.Leadership and Management
The school provides clear leadership to create a positive ethos and environment that champions efforts to promote health and wellbeing?
Procedures are in place to assess and monitor the needs of students in relation to their wellbeing and desired outcomes. / There is a clear commitment by the leadership team (inc governing body) to the healthy eating agenda, e.g. mentioned on website, in a vision statement, newsletter.
A named member of the leadership team has overall responsibility for Healthy Eating.
The SLT are involved in activities that support healthy eating work e.g. visits, sessions in school, assemblies.
The healthy eating agenda links into the School Improvement Plan.
The school can provide evidence of the use of additional funding for the healthy eating agenda.
The Leadership team and/or the Healthy Schools co-ordinator ensure that healthy eating work is monitored and measurements are taken to ensure progress towards agreed outcomes.
Data is gathered and analysed to provide information on food choices and the possible impact of these choices. E.g. School meals surveys, national child measurement programme.
Outcomes for healthy eating developments are identified after baseline measurement. Plans are put in place and regularly reviewed and monitored.eg. outcomes (pupil perception and behaviour change/improvement – are recorded in the school’s health improvement planning.
Whole School Element / Evidence of Good Practice / Notes
2. Ethos, culture and environment
The school culture and environment promotes both physical and emotional health and wellbeing for all. / The school culture and environment enable the engagement of the whole school community.
The school has a welcoming eating environment with suitable arrangements for eating lunch.
Celebrations include a range of different cultures and traditional food as appropriate.
The school monitors children’s and young people’s food choices to inform policy development in line with current guidance.
The requirements of all pupils with dietary needs are met, e.g. coeliac, nut allergy, halal food.
All food and drink throughout the school day follows the food standards guidance. Healthy lunchboxes and snacks and drinks are promoted.
Sweets high in sugar and fat are not used as a reward. Celebrations which celebrate with food use a healthier option where possible.
The school regularly promotes healthy eating E.g. displays, assemblies,
newsletters, events.
Whole School Element / Evidence of Good Practice / Notes
3.Participation and Engagement
The school has systems and processes in place to ensure the views of all children and young people are reflected across all areas of school life including those less vocal or visible?
The school provides opportunities for children and young people to develop responsibility, build confidence and self-esteem? / Pupils are regularly consulted about school food menus including world food. The systems used seek to include the views of a full cross-section of the school population e.g. different age groups, faith and cultural groups.
Opportunities are sought for pupils to contribute to the promotion of healthy eating messages
e.g.
dining room displays
managing tuck shop
cook and eat sessions
Whole School Element / Evidence of Good Practice / Notes
4.Policy
The key health and wellbeing related policies are reviewed and consulted upon on a regular basis. / The school food policy is up to date with current national guidance and is reviewed regularly.
Children parents and community representatives are consulted when considering new policies or key changes to existing policies.
The school food policy makes reference to lunchboxes/packed lunches (this may be a separate document)
Reference is made to the issue of inclusion and how the school addresses equality and diversity, e.g. cultural, dietary, considerations for school lunches and packed lunches.
School support services are informed and updated about school policies
Whole School Element / Evidence of Good Practice / Notes
5.Curriculum and Learning
The school delivers a planned programme of health and wellbeing (including RSE, Drug education, Healthy Eating, PE and Physical Activity, Social and Emotional skills, Anti-bullying, On-line safety), in line with current guidance / The school delivers a planned programme of healthy eating work in line with current guidance. Schemes of work show cross curricular links and have breadth, balance, continuity and progression. The needs of all pupils are considered. Equality and diversity issues are considered when choosing appropriate resources.
Evidenced based resources are used to support healthy eating work, e.g. The Eatwell Plate, school nurse, health promotion coordinator, other outside agencies.
Evidenced based resources are used to support work on health and wellbeing e.g. The Eatwell Plate.
Use is made of external professional providers who support the curriculum. E.g. school nurses, health promotion coordinator.
Use is made of the school, local and wider environment. E.g. School/community allotment, school garden, local food providers.
Opportunities are given to grow, cook and taste a wide variety of healthy foods.
Whole School Element / Evidence of Good Practice / Notes
6. Assessment recording and evaluation
Pupil progress and achievement are assessed, recorded and reported in line with current guidance and celebrated appropriately.
The school monitors and evaluates provision in the curriculum to ensure quality of teaching and learning. / Mechanisms are in place to assess whether learning has taken place in relation to healthy eating work, e.g. PSHE skills ladder, on-line surveys, questionnaires, end of key stage statements.
Pupil progress is monitored and pupils take a role in assessing their own progress. The schools reward scheme reflects personal development.
Pupil progress in relation to Healthy Eating is recorded and reported to parents/carers where appropriate.
The school has regular opportunities to celebrate pupils’ Healthy Eating achievements.
What is provided within the curriculum is monitored and evaluated against agreed good practice and evidence based guidance.
Whole School Element / Evidence of Good Practice / Notes
7. Training
The school identifies staff CPD needs for health and wellbeing and provides appropriate training and development opportunities
The school supports staff in maintaining their health and wellbeing and encourages them to be positive role models. / Staff have had the opportunity to learn about key healthy eating messages in staff meetings or training events.
Staff working with food have an up to date food hygiene certificate.
Staff facilitate gardening/growing food opportunities in school.
Healthy eating options available and taken up by staff.
Staff eat with pupils at lunchtime
Whole School Element / Evidence of Good Practice / Notes
8. Support for pupils
The school has systems to identify and meet the needs of vulnerable children and young people.
he school has arrangements are in place to refer children and young people to specialist services that can give professional advice? E.g. contraception, sexual health, loss and bereavement, mental health, substance misuse.
Arrangements for Safeguarding including the confidentiality of children and young people, parents/carers and staff who access advice and support via the school.
T
he School has arrangements in place for transition / Individual pupils who are identified as at risk are offered support, e.g. Go4It, healthy lifestyles clubs, school nurse support.
Links/referrals are made to the school nurse/health services if there is a concern over a child’s weight or eating disorder.
There is a system in place to communicate on a need to know basis information about a specific child’s health.
Information is passed on at each key stage to ensure pupil’s dietary needs are met.
Whole School Element / Evidence of Good Practice / Notes
9. Partnerships
The school provides opportunities for parents/carers to access information and engage with school on aspects of health and wellbeing
e school engages with the local community and encourages volunteering by children and young people. / Parents are encouraged to contribute to the activities e.g. cooking club, ‘dads and lads’ allotments, garden, school fair.
The school website and newsletter inform all members of the school community about policies, health eating messages and activities.
National and local campaigns are promoted within school.
Parents are signposted to local healthy eating sessions/clubs by staff and through the school website, social media, notice boards, leaflets and newsletters. E.g. healthy lunchbox workshops, cooking for parents and children
Members of the local community support Healthy Eating developments in school.
Community projects, activities and volunteering opportunities are promoted and actively supported e.g. collecting vouchers, involvement in community allotments.
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Healthy Eating