This is the largest section of the book and the overall message is that a 'whole school approach' involving pupils, parents, teachers and governors is necessary in order to successfully implement a Healthy Eating Policy. Integrating Healthy Eating into the curriculum as well as into leisure and social activities has proved to be beneficial to all involved and helps to reinforce the message.
In all cases, there was a true enthusiast who was determined to improve the quality of food or the eating habits in their school.
Clehonger C of E Primary School, Hereford
Developing a healthy school
by Julie Duckworth, Head Teacher
This chapter explains the detailed procedures followed in order to involve the whole school community in the preparation of a Food Policy.
About Julie Duckworth
Julie was Head Teacher of Clehonger Church of England Primary School in Hereford for 3½ years before moving to the Headship at Ledbury Primary School in September 2006.
Sacred Heart RC Primary School
Improving school meals
by Moira Johnson. School Governor
An account of how one school in Rochdale achieved a significant improvement in the quality of school meals because of the persistence of a school governor.
About Moira Johnson
Moira is a Governor at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Rochdale. She has worked in Catholic Middle and Upper Schools for 25 years. Her own daughter attended Sacred Heart School.
Healthy Eating Initiatives in North East Lincolnshire
by Annie Smyth, Service Development Officer, Client Services
Describes a series of improvements which were made in response to initiatives from the North East Lincolnshire Council’s Client Services team.
About Annie Smyth
Annie commenced her career in Hotel Management for Trust House Forte and Mount Charlotte Hotels. She joined North East Lincolnshire Council as the Service Development Officer for the Client Services team in 1998. She believes that the extensive commercial experience gained in the profit sector has given credibility to her relationship with school meal providers.
Annie Smyth and her team will be speaking at our conference on 3rd July in York. See the full programme here.
Establishing a Healthy Schools Task Group
Why children should be seen and heard
by Sally Nash, Healthy Schools Co-ordinator, Arthur Mellows Village College
Demonstrates the enormous improvements in food and the food environment that have been achieved in a very short time by involving groups of enthusiastic, committed students.
About Sally Nash
Sally is currently Life Skills and Healthy Schools Co-ordinator/Deputy Head of Sixth Form at Arthur Mellows Village College in Peterborough. Central to most of Sally’s work in school, is ‘student voice’ and trying to encourage students to become as actively involved as possible with projects being undertaken.
St Peter’s RC School, Blackburn
Pupils pre-order meals
by Lynne Waywell, Office Manager
Describes the successful implementation of self-management of the school kitchen. In particular, the children are required to indicate their choice of dish in advance. As a result, all children are served their preferred meal and wastage is kept to a minimum.
About Lynne Waywell
Lynne has been employed at St. Peter’s RC Primary school since 1990; the school is on a split site with 482 pupils. Within her role has Office Manager she has the responsibility of managing the two school kitchens.
St Aidan’s C of E High School, Harrogate
Developments since 2000
by Steve Hatcher, Deputy Head
The story of how a large Senior High School devised and implemented an in-house catering operation successfully.
About Steve Hatcher
Steve has been Deputy Head Teacher at St. Aidan’s Church of England High School since 1989. He is responsible for managing the finances and resources at the school. He and his colleagues at St Aidan’s have recently set up the Catering4schools website, which has been designed to offer advice and support for those involved in the management, planning or delivery of school catering
www.staidans.co.uk
www.catering4schools.com
Steve Hatcher and his school dietitian, Sharon Watters, will be speaking at our conference on 3rd July in York. See the full programme here.
St Francis Xavier RC Primary School, Oldbury
A new approach to the lunch hour
by Mary Simmons, Head Teacher
How rethinking the approach to the lunch hour has transformed attitudes and behaviour.
About Mary Simmons
Mary, who has been a Head Teacher for 6 years, took on a Special Measures situation and worked with the existing staff to have the school removed in a relatively short time. She has found that one of the key areas for improvement is quality of care at lunchtime.
All Saints C of E Primary School, Ilkley
A parent’s perspective and the catering manager’s perspective
by Paula Hunt, Parent and Julie McCluskey, Catering Manager
Two different perspectives, illustrating the story of how a school successfully took on the responsibility of managing its own catering operation.
About Paula Hunt
Paula is a registered dietitian and nutritionist who is passionate about good food for children. Her daughters, Alice and Annie attend All Saints CE Primary School.
About Julie McCluskey
Julie's early career was spent as a senior manager in the ever changing environment of IT. where she worked for the NHS for 17 years. Julie is relatively new to catering but always maintained a life long passion for food.
The Grab 5! Project at Ingram Road Primary School, Leeds
by Liz Messenger, Healthy Eating Adviser
Describes how an inner city school has increased consumption of fruit
and vegetables with special reference to the Fruit Tuck Shop and
cooking sessions for pupils and parents.
About Liz Messenger
Currently Liz is Healthy Eating Adviser for the Leeds Healthy School Programme. When this project was done, Liz was the 5 A DAY Co-ordinator for the Leeds North West Primary Care Trust.
Grow Active community project
by Stewart McGiffin, Sport for Health Officer, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Describes how the Grow Active project encourages school pupils and members of the community to participate in initiatives to grow fruit and vegetables.
About Stewart McGiffin
Stewart has been a sports coach for many years and was coaching on the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme for Youth Offenders in Rochdale before he took up his current post at Blackburn with Darwen.
He is keen to get people involved in activities, irrespective of their ability and attitude. He is a true enthusiast and is an inspiration to all those who work with him.
Healthy Eating in two Oldham primary schools
by Emma Holton, Deputy Head, St Hilda’s CE Primary
Describes initiatives taken at Alexandra Park and St Hilda’s CE Primary Schools in Oldham which include Breakfast Clubs, tuck shops and school meals. The children and parents are encouraged to prepare healthy lunch boxes. Crisps, chocolate and fizzy drinks are not allowed – a policy which is generally accepted by everyone involved.
About Emma Holton
Emma is currently in her seventh year of teaching after qualifying with specialisms in PSHE, RE and biology. She has been involved in Healthy Schools work since her NQT year at Hodge Clough Infants. Emma took up her post at St. Hilda’s in September 2006.
