WIREDGOV

An Ofsted report on food in schools launched today shows that most pupils have a good understanding of what makes up a healthy diet. It also finds that in the majority of schools visited, food is attractive, nutritious and well prepared.

Many schools have succeeded in increasing the take-up of free school meals by giving better advice and support to parents. But less thought has been given to providing advice to families whose incomes are low but who are not entitled to free school meals.

The report, 'Food in schools - Progress in implementing the new standards’, shows that some of these parents have to budget carefully to pay for school meals. Families on lower incomes, with a lack of transport, may also be limited to a smaller range of cheap food that is available locally but not sufficiently healthy.

Ofsted Director of Education and Care, Patrick Leeson, said:

‘This Ofsted report shows the encouraging progress schools are making to promote healthy eating, meet nutritional standards and make good school meals affordable. Children need good food at school to support their progress and achieve high standards of learning.’

The schools visited adopted a variety of approaches to extending pupils’ understanding of nutritious food. These included healthy eating clubs to learn about the importance of a balanced diet. Good schools often also collaborated with local sports clubs to promote physical exercise.

Many schools worked hard to encourage greater take-up of meals. Successful initiatives included ‘meal deals’, schemes to book tables to celebrate special events, free meals for new pupils and ‘tasting’ events for friends and family.

School breakfast clubs enabled pupils from poorer families to eat before lessons which helped to improve their attention span and mood in class. An electronic, cashless system for lunches set out parents’ allowances more clearly and enabled them to pay more easily.

Some schools ran ‘themed’ days to give pupils practical experiences of handling and preparing food. Several gave children formative experiences working on local farms and allotments or with professional chefs that greatly increased their understanding.

The report adds that by working together, schools, local authorities, parents and members of the business community can help more families provide their children with healthy food at low cost.

1. The report, Food in schools - Progress in implementing the new standards, can be found on the Ofsted website at www.ofsted.gov.uk/Publications/090230

2. A quote from a headteacher of a school visited during the survey is available on request from the Ofsted press office.

3. List of 39 schools in the 4-18 age group visited in the survey:

4. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

5. Media can contact the Ofsted Press Office through 020 7421 6864 or via Ofsted's enquiry line 0300 123 1231 between 8.30am - 6.30pm Monday - Friday. Out of these hours, during evenings and weekends, the duty press officer can be reached on 07919 057359.