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Nutrition and Ofsted

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Introducing healthy eating into your school can have a significant effect on your Ofsted report

Girl eating watermelon

Well Being Indicators

Ofsted currently use school lunch take - up data as one of the sources of evidence connected to well being.
Ofsted has published the results of the Ofsted/DCSF consultation on proposals for indicators of a school's contribution to pupils' well being. Ofsted currently use school lunch take-up data as one of the sources of evidence connected to well being. Take up of school lunches highlights the number of children eating healthily and provides information on how successful a school is at promoting a healthy eating culture, which of course makes a significant contribution to well being.
If your meals service is provided by School Food Support we can assist you by providing this crucial data. Contact Wendy Philp on 0116 3055770 for more information.

Factors contributing to increasing up take of meals

The report makes a series of recommendations, including the need to:
  • provide up-to-date factual information, support and training for school and catering staff
  • evaluate meal provision in secondary schools with very short lunch breaks
  • produce a school food policy in all schools
  • involve pupils and parents in decisions about food in schools
  • work closely with catering managers to monitor and evaluate the quality of school meals and the approach to healthier eating.
Inspection evidence showed that where provision had improved, the factors that most commonly contributed to this were:
  • menus planned well in advance and shared with pupils and their parents, who submitted orders for meals on some/all days
  • locally sourced fresh produce used in the preparation of school meals
  • fruit always served and a choice of at least two vegetables
  • water freely available for pupils
  • a gradually increasing range of food served to pupils
  • limited access to some foods, such as chips
  • themed days to increase the take-up of meals and imaginative attempts to encourage pupils to eat school meals
  • encouragement from cooks and lunchtime supervisors for pupils to sample new foods and eat all their meal, whether a school meal or a packed lunch, and guidance provided if poor selections are made
  • in nearly all cases, good provision for pupils with special dietary needs.
The work of the SFSS ties in with the above in nearly every instance, helping to ensure that as your pupils get healthier, so does the perception of your school.
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Page Last Updated: 6 January 2011