What needs did we identify

We realised that the children’s health within the school was affected by the content of the food in their packed lunches and throughout the day. We have a  number of pupils who are overweight and staff have reported on the content of their lunchboxes and reported diets. We also realised that many children were not getting enough exercise outside the school day which impacts on their general health and wellbeing.

How do we plan to address these needs?

We discussed the findings of teachers and in our health and wellbeing group discussed possible strategies for addressing some of these issues, including  whole school food and exercise initiatives, which we can link with our school travel plan (STP). It was agreed that healthy weight was a priority for our school community.

Outcomes

Baseline – NCMP data 2009/10, and the annual measurements will be monitored to determine impact of interventions. Pupil surveys completed in 2009/10 to determine the qualitative perceptions of impact of interventions (ongoing surveying).

Quantitative outcome

• Increase the proportion of children having a school meal from 20.5% to +25% (by 2013)
• Increase by at least 10% the number of junior pupils who are participating in >3hrs physical activity in school and after school clubs (by 2013)

Qualitative outcome

• Increase the number of children who report that they eat ‘5 a day’ by 10% (by 2013)
• Increase the number of pupils who report being physically active everyday by 10% (by 2013)

Targeted outcome

• To ensure all pupils with FSM have access to after school sporting activities (by 2013)
• To improve the quality of healthy packed lunches for pupils in year 1 and reception (as identified from lunch inspections, by 2013)

What activities/interventions did we develop and implement to meet these needs

We have:

• held a whole school assembly promoting 5 a day and run whole school 5-a-day week, where children had to complete a 5-a-day diary and certificates were awarded to those who had eaten 5-a-day, every day
• started a fruit stall before school in the mornings so that children are able to buy a variety of fruit and fruit drinks in order to increase their number of 5-a-day
• completed a whole school lunchbox audit in which every child who has packed lunches showed their packed lunch. When parents heard about this it had some effect on what they chose to put in their child’s packed lunch. Staff also gave the pupils advice about the sorts of healthy foods to choose for their lunchbox and spoke to parents of pupils with particularly inappropriate lunches.    improved the school meal experience with new colourful cups and jugs of water. We have also tried a number of food choice alternatives so that children are likely to get the meal they wanted.
• negotiated with the catering provider, DS Catering, about the possibility of allowing pupils to switch to school meals on a very temporary trial basis and opting in and out 
• had representatives from DS Catering and health specialists to talk to parents about healthy meals and let them sample some of the food choices at parents’ evening  
• as part of our STP, encouraged the pupils to walk, scoot or cycle to school which will have obvious health benefits. We have set up a scooter and bike hire service allowing pupils to trial bike and scooter use to travel to school.
• we have also supplied more storage for those pupils who are now choosing to scoot and cycle to school
• a number of sporting after school clubs available to pupils across the school
• employed two play leaders to encourage children to play more actively during lunch break

What did we achieve and how did teachers know?

• We have more pupils reported by staff as having a healthier lunchbox (a few children per class probably amounted to at least 50 pupils with healthier lunchboxes).
• More pupils are trying school meals (about 20 pupils have switched to school meals
• More pupils in the juniors have fruit at fruit and drinks time (this has significantly increased with about 80 extra junior pupils having fruit each day)
• Pupils are having fruit and fruit drinks as a part of their breakfast ( we sell approximately 30 pieces of fruit or fruit juice per day and many pupils have these before school)    
• Many children took part in 5 a day week and many parents have mentioned that this has impacted on their child’s diet as they have had the 5-a-day highlighted and tried to keep this up (Approximately 100 pupils completed their 5-a-day chart that week)
• All pupils have more understanding of where their food comes from
• More pupils are cycling and scooting to school – both the bike shed and cyclepods are full (so approximately 30-40 pupils per day are scooting/cycling to school)
• The bike/scooter hire have had an excellent take up with many additional children scooting (& cycling) to school ( Approximately 10 scooters and 6 bikes are hired out each week
• After school clubs have a good take up (over 100 pupils across the school do a sport related after school club)

What difference has this made for the children?

• Children have access to a healthier diet which impacts on their weight, general health and concentration.
• Children are travelling to school in a healthier way; increasing the amount of daily exercise they are getting which will again impact on their general health. 
• After school clubs and the play leaders are also improving the amount and quality of exercise experienced by pupils.

Next steps:

• We are hoping to have healthy lunchbox awards eg. Stickers
• We are planning to try and fund free fruit for FSM children in the juniors
• We are hoping to develop our mini farm further and cook with and eat the food we have grown
• We are going to offer all of our new reception children a free trial of school meals
• We are going to do more work on healthy lunchboxes and give out flyers to all our new reception parents
• We would like to extend the range of clubs we have available to pupils throughout the school
• We are hoping to take part in an initiative called SportLinx in partnership with St Mary’s College which should provide us with some data to help us guide healthy lifestyle choices.