APPENDIX 1
Memorandum from Wolsey Junior School
HEALTHY TUCK SHOP
As a result of your interest in the recent media
coverage regarding our Healthy Eating initiative, I am writing
to provide a brief resume of our approach, which I trust proves
both informative and useful.
As a consequence of our involvement in the Croydon
Community Health Trust initiative to become a Health Promoting
School, Mrs Ewin, the health co-ordinator, was becoming increasingly
concerned about the amount of E numbers and additives that the
children were having in their diet and consequently introduced
the Healthy Tuck Shop initiative in 1996.
It was decided that one way to improve the poor
diet of the children would be to stop selling crisps in the school
tuck shop at break times and sell fruit as an alternative.
Initially this pilot was exclusively with one
Year 4 class and proved successful, the children thoroughly enjoyed
the fruit. At first Mrs Ewin brought fruit in each day having
shopped at the local supermarket. As the crisps were 10p, the
apples and oranges were sold for the same price.
After approximately half a term, the other two
teachers in her year group expressed a keen interest in the pilot
scheme and they joined in to extend the sale of fruit. The children's
behaviour in the afternoons became noticeably less challenging
and their concentration span certainly seemed to improve.
As a result of this success, the Head Teacher
allocated a staff meeting to fully discuss the impact of this
initiative in Year 4 and the staff decided unanimously, if sceptically,
to completely stop selling the crisps and introduce the fruit
to the whole school.
We found an outlet that was prepared to deliver
the fruit on a regular weekly basis and who could let us have
it at a competitive price that we considered realistic and affordable
for the children. The children and parents/carers have demonstrated
their active support by purchasing the daily supply of fresh fruit
and we have not received any complaints that the crisps are no
longer available. The initiative has proved extremely successful
and today the children consume two boxes of satsumas, bananas
and apples a week. To ensure that every child is able to participate
in this initiative, it is possible to buy half an apple if the
children prefer.
All the staff have noticed the difference in
the children's behaviour. It has had a beneficial, calming effect
right across the whole school.
The SAT's results have also steadily improved
and last year's results saw a dramatic upturn, which was very
rewarding for everyone associated with the school and considered
a direct consequence of all our school improvement initiatives
and our commitment to realise the Government's Standards Agenda.
We also arranged for the school nurse and dietician
to hold discussions with parents/carers on what a healthy lunch
box should contain and now many of the children have fruit and
yoghurt in their lunch boxes, rather than crisps and confectionery.
However we are still fighting this battle to convert all parents/carers
and children about the benefits of an exclusive healthy eating
approach!
As a staff we accept that we cannot insist on
parents/carers unstinting support for this initiative but we continually
remind them of our expectations and benefits of healthy eating
and its contribution to an improved life-style, learning and achievement.
It seems that we have convinced most of the parent body and children
about the benefits of eating fresh fruit at playtime and there
are significantly less numbers of children bringing crisps, chocolate
and fizzy drinks into school to consume during the day, particularly
at playtime and for their packed lunch.
At the present time the Head Teacher is involved
in a Croydon LEA working party considering the impact of the Fair
Funding document and actively seeking to employ caterers that
will contribute to our healthy eating approach from April 2000.
Prior to the introduction of our healthy eating initiative, the
Head Teachers of both the Wolsey Schools on the shared site continued
to meet on a half term/termly basis with the school cook, a DSO
contractor, to ensure that the children have a good, healthy choice
of balanced meals each day with a vegetarian option available.
It is our intention to maintain this partnership
approach in the future and the appeal of employing our own staff,
including a catering manager with experience of providing good,
balanced meals certainly appeals when the opportunity arises next
April.
A further initiative that was introduced and
which is currently financially supported by our EAZ status is
the provision of breakfasts for the children from 8.15-8.45 am.
This provision has also proved very popular with parents/carers
and children and we trust that this initiative will also have
a beneficial impact on our school improvement drive.
Should you require any further details or information
regarding the contents of this correspondence, please do not hesitate
to contact me at your convenience.
P Winder,
Head Teacher, Wolsey Junior School
June 1999
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