Sustainable Food Procurement Initative - 'Mornington High Five's Success' - Mornington Primary School
Case Study: Mornington Primary School
Region: Nuthall, Nottinghamshire
Organisation: School
Description:
Like so many other schools these days, a couple of years ago they used to use a local education authority at Mornington Primary School to supply the food. It came in prepacked and processed, it came out of the bag and went straight in the oven but not any more. Mary Keightley, the Catering Manager runs things in the kitchen and says of the new improved system 'I make all my own bread, meat pies, puddings, everything from scratch. I get everything from local suppliers and we're helping the local environment.'
One other thing they do at the school before the working day's even starts, is provide a breakfast club it starts at half past seven here in the school hall where the children can come along, play games and make sure they have some cereal and some fruit and even a cooked breakfast as well to start the day off.
Benefits
Rob Carlyle (Headteacher, Mornington Primary School): Well for us it's very important that the children learn how to eat healthily. The food that we put on the plate is the best way of them learning that healthy food is tasty - and fun!
- Much of the food is locally sourced, ensuring quality and freshness from the field to the plate and reducing the number of 'green miles' in each meal.
- Seasonal menu's can be organised utilising the best fresh produce on offer.
- Greater concentration levels in classrooms.
- Instilling healthy attitudes towards food and nutrition in young children before they become 'addicted' to junk foods
Lessons learned during implementation
- Uptake of school meals has increased, the school is keen to revise the catering staffs cooking skills.
- It costs the parents a little bit more but this is in line with the county prices and it's a tremendous extra service for the children and parents.
- The staff know that they are making a valuable contribution to the health and wellbeing of the pupils.
Future developments
The school aims to continue improving in the same vein. New menus, building on contacts with suppliers and improving the overall health of those that use the facilities.
Further information
E-mail head@mornington.notts.sch.uk for further information.
Page published: 5 December 2003