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Whole School Packed Lunch Policy

A Healthy School

Whole School Packed Lunch Policy

The King Edward VI School - Whole School (Packed Lunch) Food Policy

C E Middleton (Health & Well-Being Co-Ordinator)
S Taylor (Head Teacher)

Date of Policy: June 2008

Approved by Gov Body: TLP Cttee 9 June 2008

Review Date: 2009

This policy document was produced in consultation with all stakeholders who interact with The King Edward VI School. It is a shared document that expresses a common vision of the ethos, status and role of all aspects of food within this learning environment.

The policy document compliments KEVI’s Whole School Food Policy and should therefore be read in conjunction with it. This policy will be available in school and will be made public through the school web site to facilitate access for all stakeholders.

Rationale

Our Whole School (Packed Lunch) Food Policy will encourage all aspects of food to be considered holistically, to ensure all elements of it are promoted clearly, coherently and consistently.

The content of the policy will reflect the entitlements of every individual to healthy and nutritious food as set out by the National Curriculum and the government nutritional standards and strive to maintain consistency between the healthy meals eaten by students from the school canteen and those provided by parents for students to consume as packed lunches.

The policy is an evolving document that has been shaped by the advice and guidance from the Department of Health “Food and Health Action Plan”, Healthy Schools Northumberland, teachernet – “Healthy Living”, School Food Trust and Food in Schools. Views of students were gathered through two questionnaires, the outcomes of which are discussed below. Parents were also consulted during a Year 10 Parent’s Evening on 23 April 2008, where the draft policy was promoted through a Healthy Eating Stand. This included the policy, leaflets and examples of healthy food options for students & parents to taste that reflected the messages of the “Balance of Good Health” scheme.

The Every Child Matters agenda “Change for Children” emphasised that being healthy is essential if children and young people are to get the best out of life and fulfil their potential. It recognised that to achieve this, health provision for children and young people needed to improve. The King Edward VI whole school food policy document recognises that by improving the provision of healthy food within the school environment, the above aim can be achieved. The whole school (packed lunch) food policy will therefore address inconsistencies between foods available for sale on the school premises and those brought into school by students to be consumed at lunchtime.

Quantitative data provided by a Healthy Eating questionnaire given to four form classes at KEVI in March 2008, suggests that equal numbers of students bring packed lunches to school to those purchasing food from the school canteen. The most popular food items within these packed meals were Sandwiches (87% students), crisps (53% students), biscuits (43% students) and fresh fruit (70% students). Other food items included fresh fruit juice (43% students), water (40% students), dried fruit and fizzy drinks / fruit drinks (30% students respectively), confectionary (23% students), cakes (20% students), yogurt (9% students), vegetables (6% students), pizza and crackers (3% students respectively).

However, the same questionnaire given to a small cluster of 18 students at a Year 9 Form Representatives Meeting in March 2008, suggested that 56% of these students brought a packed lunch to school. The most common food item was sandwiches (89% students), followed by fresh fruit (56% students), then biscuits (44% students).

This analysis reflects consistency in the results of both questionnaires and gives the data authenticity. Such data will be used to inform decisions about how to promote healthy packed meals with students and parents, where packed lunches are considered the most appropriate meal option for this high percentage of students.

Aims

To ensure that all packed lunches brought from home and consumed in school (or on school trips) provide the student with healthy and nutritious food that is similar to food served in schools, which is now regulated by national standards.
To make a positive contribution to health and Healthy Schools Status.
To encourage a happier and calmer population of students during afternoon lessons & alternative learning opportunities.
To promote consistency between the nutritional standards of packed lunches and food provided by school, which from September 2007, must adhere to national standards set by the government.
To contribute to the self-evaluation for review by Ofsted.

Where, when and to whom the policy applies

To all students and parents providing packed lunches to be consumed on The King Edward VI premises during the hours of 8am to 6pm.
To all students and parents providing packed lunches to be consumed on school trips during the hours of 8am to 6pm.
The policy will take effect from September 2008.

(The above times have been included to be consistent with those that apply to food items that are sold / provided in school, which are regulated by national standards. Evidence gathered from student questionnaires in March 2008, indicated that 37% students brought food from home that was consumed at break. 41% students sometimes did this. This policy would therefore need to apply to any food brought onto the school premises to be consumed between these times.)

Objectives

Would have a named member of the senior leadership group to oversee all aspects of food in schools including the review of the Whole School (Packed Lunch) Food Policy annually.
Would communicate this policy to the different stakeholders in ways that make it accessible to all.
KEVI will provide facilities for students bringing packed lunches.
KEVI will ensure that free, fresh drinking water is readily available at all times.
The CLG will consult with students and consider their views generated through forums such as Form Representative Meetings, Student Voice, Student Council, Get Active Events, to provide attractive and appropriate dining arrangements.
The CLG will work with parents to promote healthy packed lunches to ensure that items of food included in these abide by the national standards as set out below.
KEVI will promote the safe storage and transportation of food into school as part of a packed lunch, given the lack of refrigerated space available on it’s premises. This should include the use of insulated bags with freezer blocks.
KEVI will promote a positive dining experience for all students by facilitating where possible that packed lunch students and school meals students will be able to sit and eat together.

Packed Lunches Should Include:

What Should be Included in a Packed Lunch

Packed Lunches Should Not Include:

What Should not be Included in a Packed Lunch

Special Diets and Allergies:

Be aware of nut allergies. For this reason we do not encourage students to exchange food with peers when in the dining hall.

Implementation

The above objectives would be met by:

Named member of CLG would oversee the completion of an audit of foods consumed by students as part of a packed meal each term by using the School Food Trust “School Food Checklist”. Analysis of the data would be used to promote consistency between those foods sold / available at school and those provided as part of a packed meal to meet the new nutritional standards.
Promote the Whole School (Packed Lunch) Food Policy with students and parents by running a Healthy Schools Stands at Parent’s Evenings and using the Newsletter to share new recipe ideas.
Reward students who are seen by the lunchtime supervisors to be consuming healthy options within packed meals.
Obtain the views of students to know how they prefer to be rewarded for the above through trials and surveys. E.g. stickers & mini post cards
Informing parents of the policy by phone, letter or mini post card, when the policy is not adhered to, with suggestions as to how this can be achieved. (Students with special dietary needs would be given due consideration whether this be due to health or cultural reasons.)
Setting up a student group who would review the Whole School (Packed Lunch) Food Policy and develop appropriate ways to communicate the aims & objectives to their peers and the consequences for breaking school rules regarding food.
Possibility of holding an additional parents meting to inform parents about the whole school (packed lunch) food policy and the impact it will have on the provision of food within the school environment including the restrictions on foods brought onto site by students. Use the opportunity to raise awareness educationally with parents about why some foods are being encouraged and others restricted as part of Healthy Schools and the overall benefits to learning and health & well-being.
All school staff, including teaching, catering, administrative staff and the school nurse, will be informed of this policy and will support its implementation

Measuring & Evaluation of Outcomes

The above objectives would be monitored and evaluated by:

Student and staff groups to present findings & outcomes to CLG & governors.
School lunch supervisors communicate outcomes of audits to named member of CLG

Expected outcomes

All students consuming healthy options as part of a packed lunch
Improved levels of concentration, attention and behaviour
Improved attendance especially in the afternoons
Improved academic performance
Increased consumption of water
Reduced levels of litter within the school environment
Consistency between the formal curriculum and what is available to eat on the school premises and food items brought into school for packed meals.
Whole school policies for behaviour & rewards consistently promote healthy packed meals and healthy schools.