Food Policy - Drighlington Primary School

All staff and adults will support children in developing their awareness of making
healthy choices to maintain a nutritionally balanced diet;
Through the use of cross-curricular teaching, the balance of good health will be
promoted rather than labelling foods good and bad. This may involve the review of
curriculum content and targets to ensure sufficient coverage and progression;
The School Council will be involved in the decision-making process regarding food
and drink in school in order to represent the opinions and desires of the whole
school;
The Healthy Schools Coordinator and Healthy Schools Governors will work alongside
the catering team to inform parents and pupils of the range of menus for school
dinners in order to promote their nutritional balance and increase uptake of hot
dinners and in particular free school meals;
Sample menus of healthy alternatives will be offered to parents of children on packed
lunches to assist them in making healthier choices;
All food served in school e.g. snacks, celebrations, rewards and discos etc will reflect
the aims of the food policy. The school will insist that fizzy drinks and confectionary
will not be included as packed lunch items and the inclusion of crisps and chocolate
biscuits will be discouraged. The exception to this will be any treats provided by
parents for peer celebration of their child’s birthday;
Parents will be kept informed of the aims of the schools food policy for the promotion
of healthy eating and drinking.
Current Provision At Otley All Saints Cof E Primary School
Breaks
At morning break Key Stage 1 children are provided with a carton of semi-skimmed milk (£3
a term) and a portion of fruit or vegetables from the Schools Fruit and Vegetables scheme
(provided free of charge). We also encourage Key Stage 2 children to bring a fruit snack at
playtime. We encourage families to purchase fruit and vegetables from a local provider and,
if possible, to buy food that is Fairtrade in line with our Fairtrade Schools status.
Drinks
We recognise that insufficient fluid intake can have a negative effect on a child’s emotional
and physical wellbeing through reduced concentration skills, feelings of lethargy,
headaches, urine infections and reduced physical performance. It is also the right of every
child to have access to clean drinking water. As such, all pupils at Otley All Saints C of E
Primary School are taught about the importance of drinking water and are actively
encouraged to do so at regular intervals throughout the day. Children bring in individual
plastic water bottles each day, which are kept in the classroom and can be freely accessed
at all times. The bottles may be refilled from the water coolers located around the school.
For health and safety reasons, they are required to take home, wash and replace water
bottles on a daily basis. Water is provided in the hall each lunch time and at any extra
curricular activities and after school.
Hot Dinners and Packed Lunches
School dinners are regularly discussed at School Council meetings, and as a result of pupil
feedback and suggestions a variety of changes have been made. The school meals reflect
the new foods standards and promote the concept of a balanced and nutritious diet (see
attached). The catering team are enthusiastic about the new food standards and guidelines
and are keen to implement them effectively in order to promote healthy eating choices
based on the balance of good health. School dinners are provided by The Catering Agency.
Their meals are inclusive, reflect foods from other cultures and take individual dietary needs
into consideration, as does any work carried out on food and tasting within the classroom as
part of the curriculum, or within promotional or themed events in support of local or national
initiatives.