Oakgrove Integrated College

Whole School Food Policy

Reviewed February 2010

The Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association’s Chief Executive stated in a press release (2001):

“Early eating habits, formed in childhood, have a major effect on the risk of coronary heart disease and strokes. The evidence shows that the diet of our children may, in fact, be worsening, thanks to the prevalence of fast food.”

Responsibilities

The Board of Governors recognises the important connection between a healthy diet and a student’s ability to learn effectively and achieve high standards in school. The Board also recognises the role a school can play, as part of a larger community, to promote family health.

Mission

Oakgrove Integrated College is concerned with promoting the social, physical and emotional well-being of all its members.

The mission is to improve the health of the entire community by teaching students, and families, ways to establish and maintain life-long healthy eating habits. The mission shall be accomplished through food education and skills, the food served in school, and core academic content in the classroom.

Aims

1.    To improve the 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.

2.    To increase the pupils’ knowledge of food production, manufacturing, distribution and marketing practices, and their impact on both health and the environment.

3.    To ensure pupils are well nourished at school, and that every pupil has access to safe, tasty, and nutritious food and a safe, easily available water supply during the school day.

4.    To ensure that food provision in the school reflects the ethical and medical requirements of staff and pupils. E.g. religious, ethnic, vegetarian, medical, and allergenic needs.

5.    To make the provision and consumption of food an enjoyable and safe experience.

6.    To introduce and promote practices within the school to reinforce these aims, and to remove or discourage practices that negate them.

Objectives

To work towards ensuring that this policy is both accepted and embraced by:

·        Governors

·        School Senior Management Team

·        Teachers and support staff

·        Pupils

·        Parents

·        Food providers

·        The school’s wider community

To integrate these aims into all aspects of school life:

·        Food provision within the school

·        The curriculum

·        Pastoral and social activities

A whole school food policy expresses a common vision and role of all aspects of food within the school e.g. curriculum, extra-curricular activities, participation in local/national events and initiatives (Health Promoting Schools), vending machines, fluid consumption, the eating environment, packed lunches, school events, cookery demonstrations.

Oakgrove aims to make healthy eating an easy and informed choice for the entire school. Healthy eating is fundamental in adding life to years and years to life.

School Meals

School meals should be nutritious and appeal to pupils. For a significant number of pupils, school lunch may be the only meal of the day. School meals should encourage an interest in food by offering pupils a range of new food experiences. School meals should also provide an opportunity for the development of social skills.

·        Children are not permitted to leave the school grounds to buy their lunches.

·        Milk and water are the recommended drinks.

·        During the year there may be special food days organised e.g. French breakfast, European cuisine.

Tuck Shop

·        There is no tuck shop.

Vending Machines and Water

Research has shown the value to pupils of gaining regular access to drinking water throughout the school day. Intake of water is linked to better concentration and increased attainment.

·        There are vending machines in the school, only selling bottled water.

·        Water may be taken into the classroom (restricted in classrooms where chemicals or electrical equipment present).

Out of School Hours Activities

The school should promote a consistent message to children and the community. School activities should reinforce key healthy eating messages.

Parents/carers need to be aware of the whole school food policy.

Food Allergies

The school should be notified of any food allergies. From September 2008, the Home Economics department will ask for written confirmation from parents/guardians of any food allergies or intolerances. The names will be listed in the prep room. The canteen staff will also be notified.

Links to the Curriculum

Listed are a few examples:

·        H.E.            – nutrition, healthy eating goals, safe food storage and preparation, diet-related disorders, menu planning, food labelling and promotion, energy balance.

·        P.E.            – relationship between healthy eating and exercise.

·        Science     – nutrition, plant growth, energy, recycling.

·        PD              – healthy eating.

·        Art              – observation drawings of food.

·        Geography – what food grows where.

·        History        – past diets.

·        Maths         – weights and measures.

·        Media         – advertising of food, body images in the media.

This whole school food policy will be reviewed and up-dated by the School Nutrition Action Group (SNAG).

The implementation of the policy is the responsibility of the whole school community.