Food Policy

This policy has been developed in consultation with school staff, the school council, pupils and parents.

Consultations were carried out through staff meetings, school council meetings, meetings with the Liverpool Kashrut Commission, PSHE lessons, questionnaires, school council, food group and other action group meetings.

Rationale

King David High School is committed to helping pupils become healthier, and learn to make healthy choices. This will enhance their learning in school, and improve their life chances. This policy is linked to the Learning and Teaching, Physical Activity and Campus Kashrut Policies and the School Food Plan.

 Aims

• To support the school’s Jewish ethos
• To ensure that all aspects of food and nutrition in school promote the health and well being of pupils and staff.
• To make pupils aware of the consequences of food choices made now on later life; this includes nutritional awareness, influences on food choice such as food productions, marketing and impact on environment.
• To ensure provision and consumption of food is an enjoyable experience
• To encourage a greater uptake of school meals provision.

Objectives

To include the whole school community in the promotion of healthier lifestyles.

To regularly review food and drink served during the school day.

To create a pleasant eating environment that encourages social interaction.

Design a curriculum that delivers a consistent message of food, drink, nutrition and healthy lifestyles.

Ensure catering staff are well trained and understand why they are serving healthy food.

Ensure that teaching staff are trained to deliver the healthy eating message. Involve the wider community including parents in activities which promote

Balanced eating, enjoyment of food and local food.

To contribute to improved and sustained pupil behaviour and health, helping them to achieve their learning potential.

To provide easy access to free, fresh drinking water across the whole school day.

Food throughout the School Day:

BREAKFAST - MORNING BREAK

The school provides a breakfast & morning break service for all pupils from the milk kitchen and servery. These facilities are available to all pupils in school.

LUNCHES

All school meals are kosher, and have no dairy content. We offer a range of cafeteria choices including hot and cold food items. The menus are regularly monitored to meet as closely as possible the School Food Plans “Food Standards”.

Drinks and Water

Children understand the importance of staying well hydrated, through specific teaching input and reminders from teaching and support staff.  Staff and pupils have access to fresh, free drinking water throughout the day. And all drinks sold from the catering outlets meet the School Food Plans “Food Standards”

Paying for Meals

The school has operated a cashless catering biometric system for a number of years and this ensures no stigma for FSM pupils and enables parents and staff to monitor food choices if needed. Also, staff can monitor FSM take up and sensitively ensure that all pupils access their entitlement.

Allergens

The catering staff have had allergen training and are aware of their responsibilities should any customer have an allergen enquiry. An allergen information manual is located in the kitchen and holds all information relating to the allergens of individual menu items.

School is aware of pupils and staff with allergies. Specific provision is made for people with allergies and food intolerance, and a summary of our approach is published on the school website.

Nuts are not served in school, and pupils are not permitted to bring nuts into school.

Catering Staff

Catering staff are valued as members of the school community. They are included when relevant in school council meetings. Kitchen staff have received training in food preparation and hygiene and Child Protection; supervisory staff have had training in Child Protection and positive approaches to managing behaviour.

School Food Ethos

The pupils have sufficient time to eat and socialise.

The school’s behaviour policy applies to behaviour in queues and the dining room as well as the classroom and playground and school staff aid the management of queuing.

Curriculum

Children learn about Kashrut in Jewish Studies and Religious Education. Festive foods are covered in Jewish Studies. Children have the opportunity to

make specific foods for the whole school, e.g. matzah baking for Passover.

All pupils in Key Stage 3 study food technology as part of the curriculum. There is the opportunity to continue to GCSE level.

The school has been accredited with the Healthy Schools Award.

Extra Curriculum Activities

There is a cookery club for Key Stage 3 pupils.

Evaluation, Monitoring and Review

Food and nutrition elements within the formal curriculum will be formally assessed by the class teacher, Curriculum Leaders and Line Manager.

Food standards and legal systems and requirements are monitored through the schools catering consultants CMC.

Related Policy – Kashrut Policy