RUSH COMMON SCHOOL

POLICY FOR HEALTHY EATING

/NUTRITION

Aims & Objectives

At Rush Common School we recognise the importance of a healthy lifestyle and diet and understand that providing a balanced diet in childhood helps establish healthy eating habits for life. This policy states the way in which our school community supports pupils to develop their knowledge and understanding of the importance of a healthy diet in their everyday lives. This policy also describes how the school community helps pupils to develop the skills and attitudes that will help them to make informed healthy choices both in and out of school.

Definition of Healthy Eating/Nutrition

A healthy diet is one that allows for a balance of different foods that sustain the well-being of the individual. A healthy, balanced diet may vary between individuals.

Curriculum

Health Eating is explicitly addressed within the Science, PSHE, PE & DT curriculum. Each curriculum subject will be developing a range of skills and understanding that will contribute towards these areas. A wide range of teaching approaches and resources are used to deliver the curriculum.

In Rush Common School we promote a positive attitude towards healthy eating and are actively taking part in a number of initiatives to develop healthy eating habits for life.

School Food Provision

At Rush Common we recognise that a healthy diet contains lots of fruit and vegetables; is based on starchy foods such as wholegrain bread, pasta and rice; and is low in fat (especially saturated fat), salt and sugar

The school is aware of statutory nutritional standards for school lunches that were introduced in April 2001 based on Government advice on Healthy Eating - The Balance of Good Health, and is also aware new standards which were set in September 2006.

Food and Drinks Provision

Everyone has the right to access clean drinking water. We try to encourage pupils to drink water in school.

Rush Common pupils are actively encouraged to bring clearly labelled, plastic water bottles into school every day that can be kept in the classroom so that pupils can have access to drinks freely without leaving the classroom. For health & safety reasons, pupils are required to take their drink bottles home each day to be washed and refilled. Jugs of water and beakers are provided in the hall each lunchtime. A water fountain is fully accessible to all children in school.

Packed Lunches and Snacks

Parents are asked to support the school's healthy eating policy by providing balanced and nutritious packed lunches for their children. Fruit and vegetable snacks are encouraged at morning playtime. The eating of crisps and chocolate bars at snack time is not allowed. Sweets continue not to be allowed at snack or lunchtime. ECO school council has recently revisited this issue and parents are reminded in the school newsletter. Pupils may bring squash or fruit juice to have with their packed lunches.

Setting Provision

All school meals are eaten in the school hall. Pupils will be encouraged to take their time to eat their dinner and to eat as much of it as possible. If a child has a packed lunch they eat it in their classroom under supervision.

Date agreed: 30^th Nov 07 Headteacher

Date for review: Nov 10