Universal Infant Free School Meals

Presentation to Parents26th June 2014

The Children and Families Bill places a legal duty on state-funded schools in England, including academies and free schools, to offer a free school lunch to all pupils in reception, year 1 and year 2.

The duty will come into force from September 2014.

Video

The background – The School Food Plan

This plan is about good food and happiness. It is about the pleasures of growing, cooking and eating proper food. It is also about improving the academic performance of our children and the health of our nation.

Only 1% of packed lunches meet the nutritional standards that currently apply to school food.

This country faces a serious health crisis caused by bad diet. Almost 20% of children are obese by the time they leave primary school at 11. Diet-related illnesses are putting a huge strain on the nation’s coffers – costing the NHS £10 billion every year. We need to tackle the problem now, before the costs (both personal and financial) become too heavy to bear.

School Food Plan

Schools are legally required to provide meals that comply with the School Food Standards. These standards are intended to ensure that children get the nutrition they need across the whole school day. They govern all food and drink on offer within the school and apply across the school day.

The legal requirement on schools will be to provide a lunchtime meal that meets the School Food Standards, where they apply. We expect that pupils will routinely be offered a hot meal option.

Meal requirements and food standards

Food-based standards define the foods and drinks that must be provided, those which are restricted, and those which must not be provided. Food-based standards apply to all food and drink provided to pupils on and off school premises and during an extended school day (up to 6pm), including school trips.

Nutrient-based standards apply only to school lunches. They set out requirements for the amount of energy and 13 nutrients that must be in an average school lunch during a one to four week menu cycle.

Food Standards

The new standards include:

One or more portions of vegetables or salad as an accompaniment every day

At least three different fruits, and three different vegetables each week

An emphasis on wholegrain foods in place of refined carbohydrates An emphasis on making water the drink of choice Limiting fruit juice portions to 150mls Restricting the amount of added sugars or honey in other drinks to

five percent No more than two portions a week of food that has been deep-

fried, batter-coated, or  breadcrumb-coated. No more than two portions of food which include pastry each week.

Food Standards cont.

The quality of food in England’s schools has improved enormously since 2005, when Jamie Oliver alerted the nation to the horrors of the Turkey Twizzler. There has been a clear, measurable improvement in the nutritional quality of most school food, and a reduction in junk foods.

The meals

Venison is from Thoresby Park, Sherwood Forest Beef – grazed on the banks of the River Trent by Holme

Farm in Rampton Lamb from the Peak District Turkey – farm assured, cage free from Lincs Turkey Ltd

in Grainthorpe, Louth Pork - local and rare breed from Hockerwood Farm in

Upton Eggs - free range from Fieldson Farm Eggs in

Lincolnshire Milk - fresh and local from Newfield Dairy in Hockerton Vegetables - fresh and seasonal, grown locally where

possible, from Country Fresh Foods in Sheffield

Where does the produce come from?

Our fish carries the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) accreditation3 – ensuring it is sourced from sustainable stocks

We use organic bouillon from Major International in all our pasta, pie and casserole dishes

We use organic soya milk to cater for medical or dietary requirements

Menu

Headteachers and school governors are best placed to make decisions in the case of pupils who have special dietary requirements, taking into account local circumstances. Schools to make reasonable adjustments for pupils with these requirements.

Special dietary requirements

The new standards include:

1.One or more portions of vegetables or salad as an accompaniment every day

2.At least three different fruits, and three different vegetables each week

3.An emphasis on wholegrain foods in place of refined carbohydrates

4.An emphasis on making water the drink of choice

5.Limiting fruit juice portions to 150mls

6.Restricting the amount of added sugars or honey in other drinks to five percent 7.No more than two portions a week of food that has been deep-fried, batter-coated, or  breadcrumb-coated. 8.No more than two portions of food which include pastry each week.

Many studies have shown that hunger affects concentration, and that well-nourished children fare better at school.

Good food provision in schools has been shown to lead not only to healthier children, but to improved attainment. We hope this plan will help to create a generation of children who enjoy food that makes them healthier, more successful and, most importantly, happier.

Saves £400 a year on your food bill!

Why is it important/worth doing?

Talks with LA Catering Service New cooking equipment Possibly family service Two serving trolleys if not family service New tables if possible Longer hours for Middays if needed All dinners first A character Packed lunches for trips Looked at other schools Trial and error!

How will we do it??!!

Leaflets Please register by 1st July Tasting sessions 27.6.14 and 2.7.14

What next?