APPENDIX 9
Memorandum from Reading Borough Council
A. THE POSITION
IN READING
BOROUGH COUNCIL
This is a confirmation of some of the key information
presented to members of the Sub-Committee when they visited the
Whitley Park Infant and Junior Schools on 6 July.
1. The caterer providing the central service
under contract for Reading schools follows the nutritional recommendations
of the Caroline Walker Trust.
2. Menu planning involves the district managers
and the company nutritionist, a nutritionist from the Area Health
Authority and a representative of the LEA.
3. When the menu has been agreed it is circulated
in advance to headteachers who are able to suggest variations
to suit local needs.
4. Road shows are held on a regular basis,
which enable parents with their children, headteachers and governors
to sample meals in advance of the introduction of a menu and to
discuss issues of nutrition with the caterer.
5. Monitoring is low key but effective and
is based upon a partnership between the LEA, schools and the contract
caterer.
6. At schools with the cash cafeteria or
set meal choice system, fruit is available as an alternative option
to the pudding and there are slicing arrangements available for
the benefit of the younger pupils: (this was a point which did
not come out that clearly during the afternoon session held in
Reading).
7. Links between school catering and the
curriculum are being made by Headteachers with the help of a member
of the LEA advisory staff.
8. Whilst Headteachers do their best to
improve the dining environment, the condition of the buildings
is also a factor. There are several kitchens and dining rooms,
housed in Horsa buildings dating back to the 1940s and 1950s,
which are now becoming life expired. As building programme priorities
tend to focus of necessity on teaching accommodation, the replacement
of out of date dining accommodation may take some years to achieve.
B. GENERAL COMMENTS1.
Nutritional Standards
The response to the "Ingredients for Success"
consultation indicated broad support throughout the country for
the introduction of food based nutritional standards.
This is a sound basis on which to deal with
nutritional standards, but in order to have a consistent approach
across the country it will be necessary to have nutritional criteria
"behind" the foods so that standard portion sizes can
be recommended.
2. Daily intake
The current nutritional guidelines from the
Caroline Walker Trust recommend that the school lunch should provide
on average one third of the child's daily intake of food and it
would be appropriate for this to continue. In the light of the
current population trend of increasing obesity it would not seem
prudent for school meals to provide for more than one meals worth
of nutrients especially in terms of energy but on the other hand
there is an uncertainty about the home provision in deprived areas.
One way of assisting with this would be to arrange in appropriate
cases that a breakfast was also available through the school catering
service.
3. Fruit and Vegetables
The inclusion of a wide variety of fruit and
vegetables whether fresh, frozen or tinned within the standards
should be emphasised and suggestions concerning the most effective
marketing strategies for encouraging children to eat these foods
developed.
4. Whole School Approach
Caterers should have the duty to provide well
balanced options from which meals can be selected. Children learn
about balance from catering staff, the school and parents. The
new standards should acknowledge this partnership approach and
also the need to link what happens within the school catering
service with the curriculum and the school life generally.
5. Monitoring
Monitoring is best dealt with on a local basis
and is found to be most effective if it is developed in partnership
with those providing the catering service, whether this be in
house or through a contractor.
6. Promotions
The benefits of school meals could be promoted
more widely on a national basis and given the credit which they
deserve.
Reading Borough Council
August 1999
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