Schools across the country are committing to serving healthy and sustainable food and embedding a good food culture, working through the Food for Life Award criteria to do so.
Vernon Terrace Primary School in West Northamptonshire is one such school on this journey. They want to change their food culture and ensure it’s a place where pupils can learn to enjoy good food.
Headteacher Julie Cassiano tells us: “I want children to have a good understanding of food.”
The school already has a good foundation of activity and attitude around food to build from, and they’re especially proud of their support for children who are living with food insecurity.
One way they support these children is by ensuring snacks are available daily to eat in class, which everyone always has access to.
Alongside this, lots of pupils attend a breakfast club which is priced to be inclusive. As a result of these initiatives, negative behaviour related to hunger has reduced.
As the school begin to work through the Food for Life Schools Award criteria, their first steps will be to engage pupil leaders and parents, launch a cooking club and survey pupils on the current school meal provision.
Gemma Burton, Food for Life lead, is most excited about “working with pupil leaders and sharing family recipes.”
There is a real keenness in the school to use food to give pupils opportunities to connect with both their own and different cultures, as well as connect with family and the wider community.
With such strong foundations already in place, Vernon Terrace Primary School’s Food for Life journey is off to a brilliant start.
Read more about Food for Life’s work in West Northamptonshire.
