Public Sector Sustainable Food Procurement Initiative - A Trio of Essex Schools Raise Much More Than Awareness
Case Study: Great Easton C.E.(A.) Primary School, Snow HillRegion: East of England (Essex)
Organisation: Primary School
Description:
Great Easton Primary School has 155 pupils on roll. It decided to opt out of the county school meals contract in April 2003 because of the concerns of staff and parents about the general quality and nutritional value of the food the children were receiving and a need to improve the quality of the pupil's dining experience itself.
The feasibility for such a venture was uncertain as barely more than 30 children took school meals on an average day. However, it was clear the school could not fail to improve on existing meals and so staff took their courage in both hands and went independent to give them total control over their catering.
One year on, the number of school lunches prepared each day averages 105 for children and 6 for staff. For £1.50 a day the children now receive not only more nutritious food but also a more substantial and better presented meal. The school is also making a small profit and it has been possible to give kitchen staff a small pay rise. Nor has recognition of success come only in the 350% increase in meal take up, for the school has also received two awards in succession under the "Healthy Schools" initiative.
Benefits
- staff consider the school lunch is adding its own significant contribution to the school's drive for high standards.
- kitchen staff are happier because they feel they are working directly for the school and the children.
- it is evident that children will eat "proper food" when it is well cooked and well presented proving that there is no conflict between providing healthy and nutritious meals and getting children to eat them
- it was decided that a priority was to stop serving food on "airline trays" and to give children instead proper china crockery, this has improved the overall dining experience and reduced waste.
- the National Curriculum (Key Stage 2) states that "Pupils should be taught ... about the need for food for activity and growth and about the importance of an adequate and varied diet for health". At Great Easton Primary School staff have considered it self-evident that if this lesson is ever to be properly taught, it has to be reinforced by the school's own practice and this is now being done both through the school lunch and by the sale of "healthy snacks".
Lessons learned during implementation
- The school was determined from the beginning to take the issues of hygiene and food safety very seriously and to work closely with the District Council's Environmental Health Officer (EHO), both by seeking his advice and by making clear to him that the school was anxious to follow "best practice".
- Before the school took over its own school meal service, all food came from a single company without any thought being given as to which suppliers might be the best sources for which products. Now (May 2004) the school is using four suppliers - two of which are local
- The format of the menu first arose from discussions between Gill Hopkins (Headteacher) and Carolyn Wiffen (Catering Manager). Following these, and after "feed-back" had been obtained from parents, it was decided the school would offer a two-week rolling "set meal" (hot), with the option - chosen first thing in the morning in advance - of a cold alternative.
- These new ventures enabled the whole school community to be actively involved in attaining the nationally recognized Advanced "Healthy Schools" Award in November 2004.
Future developments
The use of good local suppliers for food products is a matter that Carolyn hopes to develop further in the months ahead. The E.H.O made recommendations about staff training and qualifications, in consequence of which both Carolyn and the Assistant Cook attended the officially recognized "Basic Hygiene" course, while this year Carolyn will also attend the "Intermediate" course.
Further information
The case studies have been published in EAFL's guidance booklet, Providing Meals in Essex Primary Schools, distributed to every school in Essex, and can be seen in more detail on EAFL's website, www.eafl.org.uk
For further information, please contact East Anglia Food Link, The Street, Long Stratton, Norwich, NR15 2XQ on 01508 536666 or info@eafl.org.uk
Further information on implementation of the Sustainable Food & Farming
Strategy in East of England is on the web site of the Government Office
for the East of England.
www.go-east.gov.uk/goeast/our_region/regional_strategies/
Page last modified:
23 September 2005
Page published: 13 August 2004