Healthy happy tummies equal healthy happy minds

Radleys Primary has a diverse mix of pupils from working and non-working families and a higher than average free school meal allocation of 22.5%. 

Take up of free school meals is 38% and rising. 

The staff at the school have made concerted efforts to put food at the heart of what they do and offer to their pupils. They have been a member of Food for Life since 2019 and are currently working towards their Silver Food for Life Served Here award as well as a Wellbeing Award. 

In July 2021, the school decided to move to providing school meals in-house, in a bid to ensure quality and value for families. One of the first things the school team did was to remove sandwiches from the school lunch menu. 

As Vicky explains: “We felt that we were not only duplicating what a packed lunch offers but also perhaps offering too many options, for what are young children. We want to help ensure our pupils have at least one hot meal a day and felt that as well as reducing wastage and managing costs we can help families who may be struggling so taking sandwiches off seemed the right thing to do.” 

“We have around 100 pupils a day who have school meals, around 40% of our total school numbers and we are acutely aware, for many, that may be their only true meal of the day. We take the time over lunch to help pass on good eating habits to our pupils for them to share as they get older. We want them to take those behaviours; of sitting at a table and trying new things home with them. We also cook meals that can be batch cooked simply at home. For example, on today’s menu was curry. Like all meal providers costs are going up across the board, meat is now purchased locally from a butcher and 99% of what is on offer is now cooked every day, from scratch so staffing costs and energy costs will increase. But deputy head Mrs Fitzpatrick, thinks it is a worthwhile investment."

“We have already seen a marked increase in teachers telling us some of their pupils are coming into school hungry or are hungry after their packed lunches. We work hard to support those pupils; we will find a way to give them a free breakfast at the breakfast club, encourage them to take-up school meals or quietly signpost the family for food bank vouchers. I am worried it will get worse over the winter and wonder if increasingly the evening meal will be something cold or more convenience food.” 

The pupils at Radleys Primary school have a school garden, in summer there are swathes of wildflowers in beds by the entrance and they learn about food, gardening and cooking as part of their curriculum, but the school staff are aware that this education needs supporting with full and happy children for them to excel. 

“We know it is hard for many of our families right now, to stretch to cover school meal costs or packed lunches, reflects Vicky. 

“One of our mums is a single mum, she works hard and receives tax credits, but she isn’t eligible for free school meals. Changing that criteria would be such a boost for her and her children. Not only would the children be able to strive to be their best and be ready to learn, but the money she saved on putting together packed lunches at a time when literally everything is going up, would probably ensure she and her children got a hot meal at night too. That’s priceless, isn’t it? Everyone should be able to tuck their child in bed knowing they aren’t hungry” 

Vicky continued: “Children are fussy, we all know that. A mum and dad might have leftovers for their lunch at work or use up odd things in the fridge, but you can’t send a child to school with cold pasta. Extending free school meals would be a big help to families, not just in our school but in all schools.” 

For now, Radleys Primary are doing their level best to bridge the gap by shining a light on the delicious food cooked fresh every day, quietly supporting families where needed and teaching their pupils about good food. The hope is that more of their vulnerable pupils can have access to a free school meal very soon. 

Food for Life are supporting the campaign for Free School Meals for all as part of our wider work on ensuring every child has at least one healthy and sustainable meal per day. Find out more about how we help schools transform food for the better