Download Food Policy - Pamphill School

Pamphill First School Food Policy
Introduction
Staff and Governors recognise the important connection between a healthy diet and a pupil’s ability to learn effectively
and achieve high standards in school. The school recognises the role we can play as part of the larger community, to
promote family health and welfare. International research shows that diets rich in fruit and vegetables and low in fats,
salt and sugars, are protective against heart disease, strokes and obesity.
The school recognises that sharing food is a fundamental experience for all people: a primary way to nurture and
celebrate our cultural diversity; and a bridge for building friendships.
Our aim is to ensure that children who attend Pamphill School receive consistent and coherent messages about food
and its role in their long term health through a whole school approach.
Aims





To ensure that all aspects of food and nutrition promote health and well-being of pupils, staff and visitors to
our school.
To support the good health of pupils, staff and their families by helping to influence their eating habits through
increasing their knowledge and awareness of food issues, including what constitutes a healthy diet, and
hygienic food preparation and storage methods.
To ensure that food provision in the school reflects the ethical and medical requirements of the pupils and
staff e.g. religious, ethnic, vegetarian, medical and allergenic needs.
To make the provision and consumption of food an enjoyable and safe experience.
To introduce and promote practices within school to reinforce these aims, and to remove or discourage
practices that negate them.
Objectives
 Ensure consistent messages about food across the curriculum and throughout the school environment.
 To enable pupils to make informed choices about food.
 To have a positive impact towards the physical development of all members of our school community.
Actions to Meet Our Objectives
 We will consult pupils, parents and staff, in guiding food policy and practice in school.
 We will seek advice and support from external agencies to develop our policy.
 We will review our dining environment to encourage the positive social interaction during mealtimes between
pupils and staff within our school.
 We will encourage staff to be positive role models and to eat healthily where they can be observed by pupils.
 We will ensure that healthy food and drink options are available and promoted.
 We will work with food providers and parents to ensure that meals and packed lunches are nutritious and
healthy.
 We will ensure that pupils have the opportunity to learn about food and nutrition as part of the school
curriculum.
 We will ensure that pupils and staff have easy access to free clean fresh drinking water.
Our Whole School Policy Covers the Following Areas:
Breakfast
Our school promotes the value of breakfast and encourages every pupil to have breakfast at the start of the day to
ensure they are alert and ready to learn. Starting the day with a nutritious breakfast has been shown to improve a
child’s concentration.
Break Times
Fruit is given to foundation stage and key stage 1 on a daily basis, as we are part of the Government “School Fruit and
Vegetable Scheme”. Pupils in key stage 2 are allowed to bring in fruit or vegetables only for their mid-morning snack.
School Meals
Our school meals, provided by Chartwell, meet the latest DfE guidance on improving school meals and follow the food
based requirements for school lunches.
Children and parents are able to decide the menu for the week ahead using the online ordering process.
Packed Lunches/Trips
We are working towards supporting our parents and encouraging pupils to bring in nutritious and balanced packed
lunches. We are also encouraging an increase in the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables in packed lunches and
decreasing the amount of high fat, salty and sweet food brought into school.
Water
Access to water is a fundamental human right and necessary for good health. Children should drink water regularly
during the school day. Even mild dehydration can contribute to poor concentration and reduce mental performance.
Children need to drink at least 6 – 8 glasses of water per day and more when active or in hot weather.
Water is available throughout the day for the children to access as and when they require it. Water taps/coolers in
school and water bottles from home are ways the children obtain water. Jugs of water and cups are on the table at
lunch time for the children.
Birthdays and Celebrations
Birthdays and celebrations are an important part of school life and we celebrate them in class. If parents would like to
bring in something to share with the class ie: small packets of sweets or chocolates that are nut free, then they are
welcome as it is recognised as a treat and not a daily occurrence. The sharing of homemade/shop bought cake,
although generous and thoughtful, is not permitted as there are often children with food allergies who can be excluded
from the celebration.
Food in the Curriculum
Our school promotes healthy eating by working with pupils to learn about food in the context of a healthy diet and
healthy lifestyle, making pupils aware of the variety of food, including foods from other cultures. Pupils will develop
skills in planning, budgeting and preparing a diet to achieve the balance of good health as well as basic food hygiene
and food safety practices.
Dining Hall Expectations
Children are expected to follow directions, be polite, and make lunchtime a pleasant and sociable eating experience. It
is expected that packed lunches are provided taking into account healthy food choices.
Food Safety
Where appropriate, food handling training will be received by staff.
Nut allergies
We are a nut free school but we cannot guarantee that food products are totally nut free.
Parents are asked to refrain from providing food products, which may contain nuts, in packed lunches or any other food
brought into the school and children with a nut and/or peanut allergy have an individual management plan. Staff are
trained to recognise and manage allergic reactions.
Food for Staff
The staff at our school are clear about the aims and objectives of our school food policy. Staff have a duty to be good
role models to pupils. All staff are encouraged to adopt the whole school food policy during the school day.
Fund Raising Events
Fund raising is an important part of school life. All fund raising activities will consider the importance of the whole
school food policy. When possible the school will promote healthier choices, however, in some circumstances this may
not be possible such as the annual Christmas and summer fairs, achievement assembly, cake sales and fund raising
charity events.
At these events, children are accompanied by parents, so we naturally leave the decision whether children are
permitted to eat homemade produce, to the parents as we cannot monitor ingredients or hygiene.
Partnership with parents
The partnership of home and school is critical in shaping how children and young people behave, particularly where
health is concerned, each must reinforce the other.
We ask parents and carers not to send food or drinks which conflict with our food policy and we remind them that only
water or milk be consumed during the school day. During out of school events, the school will encourage parents and
carers to consider the food policy in the range of food and drinks offered. Parents are also informed of the school meals
on offer through the weekly menu available via the Chartwell website.
Presented to Governors: January 2017
Review date: Autumn 2020