Healthier eating in school can influence quality of life beyond it
Case Study: London Nautical School
Region: South East
Organisation: London Nautical School
Description
The catchment area of the London Nautical School is inner London, with 70% of pupils from the boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Westminster and Islington. The school recognises that the midday meal is a key - and possibly the only - opportunity for some of its pupils to access freshly prepared, healthy food.
Benefits
- We genuinely believe that healthier eating can make an impact on our pupils' lives and that what we achieve within school can influence their quality of life beyond it.
- A welfare officer from Lambeth Council recently commented that The London Nautical School provides stability which, for some pupils, is a lifeline. The midday meals provided compliment this, especially where free school meals are concerned.
- OFSTED inspectors, in their 2002 report on the school, were very complimentary about our catering arrangements.
- Take-up of school lunches has increased by 12% since we introduced healthier meals and cashless catering.
- By involving pupils in a catering committee - and circulating minutes of this group to all pupils in weekly tutor periods - we have stimulated genuine interest in involvement with catering and are able to promote the desirability of healthier lifestyles.
- The school's caterer, Cater Link Ltd, also communicates directly with parents by newsletter, to reinforce messages about good eating habits and how and why we operate a fresh food policy.
Lessons learned during implementation
- When the first changes were made in 1998 there were some complaints, but these faded away.
- The healthier approach isn't just about food served in the canteen: we have no confectionary vending machines, drinks vending machines now offer water and juices but not carbonated drinks.
- We know that a healthy eating philosophy in a secondary school is not the most palatable option, but it pays to persevere.
- Roast dinners have become more popular than we had predicted and this is an opportunity to serve more fresh vegetables.
Future developments
To continue involving pupils with the decision making process where catering is concerned, enabling them to see that they have a voice, which is listened to, so long as the joint aim for healthy eating is still being pursued.
Further information
London Nautical School
E-mail: admin@nautical.lambeth.sch.uk
Website: www.lns.org.uk
Cater Link Ltd
Website: www.caterlinkltd.co.uk
Page published: 25 February 2005