Kitchen

This policy has been written to give clear guidance to staff, visitors, parents/carers and students about the provision of food during the school day and our approach to the positive promotion of healthy eating. Good food provision in schools has been shown to lead not only to healthier children, but to improved attainment.

As a ‘healthy school’, we want to ensure that we promote the health and wellbeing of the whole school community through all aspects of food and nutrition, and provide consistent messages to students, parents/carers and staff. Through all aspects of school life we aim:

• to promote health awareness;
• to give our students the knowledge and skills they need to be able to make healthy choices;
• to ensure that we are giving consistent messages about food and health across the school day;
• to ensure the food and drink available across the school day reinforces the healthy lifestyle message;
• to ensure that the nutrition of food that students bring to school, as part of a packed lunch, is in line with the food provided at school;
• to include the whole school community in the promotion of healthier lifestyles.

School Business Leader: Overall responsibility for ensuring that food offered and eaten in school meets current health guidelines (including school meals, packed lunches and food other than lunch – parties, fundraisers, events etc).

Chef Manager Level 4 Food Safety & Safety: Oversees the breakfast, break and lunch provision, ensuring that menus adhere to the food standards and that all health and safety and allergy legislation is complied with.

Head of Food Technology & Nutrition: Overall responsibility for food provision in education, including overseeing that the Food and Drink Policy is implemented.

Governors: Responsibility for the provision of school meals lies with school governors. This includes making sure that planned food and drink provision meets the national school food standards. The Chair of the People Committee is responsible for all aspects of the Healthy Schools Programme.

Students

Students are involved in decision making related to food provision and contribute to relevant sections of this policy via the School Council. They are involved in regular consultation with the school Chef Manager and other students to ensure the menu meets their needs, and to ensure full engagement with other aspects of the policy.

In terms of food and nutrition education, the school’s curriculum includes lessons on healthy eating, food preparation and cooking techniques. This programme aims to instil a love for cooking, and provide students with the skills needed to prepare healthy, delicious meals independently.

Staff

All staff should be aware of the policy and understand their role within it, ensuring that teaching across the curriculum is consistent with the aims of the food policy.

Staff are role models for students, and therefore need to be mindful of their own food choices, particularly during lunch where these choices might be visible to the students.

Training and support are available for all staff to deliver cooking skills or food technology including being up-to-date with concepts of healthy eating, oral health, planning and budgeting, and food growing. The kitchen also supports educational initiatives, working together with the Food Technology Department, integrating lessons on nutrition and the environmental impact of food choices. There are regular tasting sessions and a suggestion box for the EBS community to provide feedback and new ideas.

Parent and Carers

We communicate regularly with parents/carers about the importance of healthy eating. Our guidelines and expectations around food in school are shared with all parents/carers.

Students prepare healthy meals in Food Technology and take what they have made home as an example for parents/carers.

Food and nutrition are taught at an appropriate level throughout each Key Stage in Science, PSHEE and Design & Technology (Food and Nutrition).

Staff delivering cooking sessions and clubs have achieved Level 2/3 in Food Safety and Hygiene.

East Barnet School does everything possible to accommodate students’ specialist dietary requirements including allergies, intolerances and religious or cultural practices. East Barnet School and the Chef Manager work closely with parents/carers to support the student with medically verified allergies or intolerances.

The Catering Manager holds the file with the list of food allergies and a copy of this is also held in the medical room. This is shared with relevant staff members.

East Barnet School is a nut-free school.

The EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation (1169/2011)4 requires food businesses to provide allergy information for unpackaged foods from 13 December 2014. There are also changes to existing legislation. Students’ food allergies are displayed in a sensitive way, in relevant places around the school, including in class when appropriate.

All food served at the school on a regular basis between 8.00am and 2.30pm meets the mandatory school food standards, and there is a process in place to ensure that the provision is coordinated across all food and drink outlets. Food served at breakfast and the mid-morning break all meet the statutory food-based standards for school food other than lunch. The school has evidence to show compliance.

Within the catering outlets, East Barnet School ensures that the lunches served by the Chef Manager meet the statutory nutrient and food-based standards for school lunches.

Breakfast

East Barnet School offers a daily Breakfast Club to all students including those who are entitled to Free School Meals. The Breakfast Club runs from 8.00am – 8.30am. On offer is a variety of different fortified low sugar cereals including whole-wheat varieties, bread, eggs, fresh fruit and water.

Break/Snacks

East Barnet School offers a range of break-time snacks to its students. The school emphasises healthy eating and provides options that align with nutritional guidelines. Typical break-time snacks include fresh fruit, vegetable sticks, whole grain snacks and dairy options such as yogurt. The school also offers occasional treats, but these are balanced with healthier choices to ensure students maintain a well balanced diet throughout the school day.

School Lunches

East Barnet School offers a variety of lunch options designed to meet the nutritional needs of students, while encouraging healthy eating habits. The school kitchen focuses on providing homemade, well balanced meals that include a range of options such as:

• Hot Meals: These typically include a selection of main dishes with vegetables, pasta, rice, or potatoes.
• Vegetarian and Vegan Options: To accommodate different dietary preferences and needs.
• Salad Bar: A variety of fresh salads and healthy toppings.
• Sandwiches and Wraps: For those who prefer lighter or quicker meals.
• Homemade Desserts with 50% of fruit filling, Fruits and Yogurts: Available for dessert or as snacks.

EBS follow the Food Standards Agency to ensure that we serve from our kitchen:

• Fruits and Vegetables: We provide at least one portion of vegetables or salad as part of every main meal, and at least one portion of fruit every day.
• Bread, Rice, Potatoes, and Pasta: These starchy foods are available every day, with wholegrain varieties included where possible.
• Protein Sources: A variety of protein sources, including meat, fish, eggs, beans, and other non-dairy protein, are included in our menu. Oily fish is available at least once every three weeks.

The school is committed to promoting healthy eating habits and ensuring that students have access to nutritious meals throughout the day.

The school lunches (menus above) meet the statutory school food standards. Lunch is served between 11.55am and 2.30pm, and is provided by the Chef Manager.

Our dining area offers a clean, sociable environment that is welcoming, promotes social interaction amongst students and encourages good manners at all times. Students are able to sit with their peers who have a packed lunch or school dinners. Staff are also encouraged to eat with students in the dining hall to promote positive role modelling.

We use high-quality ingredients using nominated suppliers. We regularly ask for feedback from students and staff to ensure the food served looks appealing and meets the needs of our students, staff and school food standards.

School Food Standards Guidance

Packed Lunches

We encourage parents/carers to provide healthy, well-balanced packed lunches as per our guidance on the school website. The packed lunch guidance is disseminated regularly via newsletters throughout the year. The midday supervisors advise students who bring foods high in fat, sugar and salt that they are not suitable. Parents/Carers, whose children persistently bring unsuitable packed lunches, are contacted and reminded of the school’s packed lunch policy. No fizzy drinks or energy drinks are allowed. East Barnet School emphasises providing healthy and nutritious options for students, whether through school-provided meals or packed lunches brought from home. The school’s packed lunch policy aims to ensure that all students have access to well-balanced and wholesome meals, contributing to their overall health and academic performance.

Packed Lunch Guidelines:

1. Healthy Components:
   • Proteins: Include items such as boiled eggs, lean meats, fish or beans.
   • Carbohydrates: Wholegrain bread, bagels, pitta, pasta, couscous or rice.
   • Dairy: Cheese, yogurt or other dairy products.
   • Fruits and Vegetables: Fresh fruits and vegetables should be a staple in every packed lunch (at least one portion of fruit, or one portion of vegetables or salad).
2. Restricted Items:
   • Sugary Snacks: Avoid items high in sugar like candy, chocolate, and sugary drinks.
   • Processed Foods: Limit the inclusion of highly processed foods such as crisps and pre-packaged snacks.
   • Nut-Free Policy: Due to allergies, nuts and nut-based products are not allowed.
3. Drink Options:
   • Encourage water or milk over sugary drinks. Water fountains are available throughout the school for students to refill their bottles.
4. Environmental Considerations:
   • Use reusable containers to reduce waste. The school promotes environmentally friendly
     practices.
5. Portions:
   • The weight of portions is also important and is the same as for hot meals.

Packed lunches should keep the following to a minimum (only 1 of each):

• Crisps or crisp type snacks e.g. flavoured rice cakes or cheddars.
• Any items containing chocolate including bars, biscuits, cakes or yoghurts/desserts.

Packed lunches should not include:

• Sweets or confectionary.

Polite reminders are sent home to support these healthy choice guidelines.

East Barnet School emphasises the importance of healthy hydration and limits the availability of sugary drinks, aligning with their commitment to student well-being. East Barnet School offers a variety of drinks to students, primarily focusing on promoting healthy choices. The available options include:

1. Water: Both still and carbonated water are available, encouraging students to stay hydrated.
2. Milk: Regular and flavoured milk options, such as strawberry or banana milk, are provided.
3. Fruit & Vegetable Juices: A selection of 100% fruit juices in various flavours. Up to 150ml per serving.
4. Smoothies: Fresh fruit smoothies are offered as a nutritious option.
5. Hot Drinks: Costa Coffee hot drinks like tea and hot chocolate are available in the Sixth Form Café.
6. Non-Dairy Alternatives: Plain, soya, rice or oat drinks enriched with calcium.
7. Combination Drinks: These include combinations of fruit or vegetable juice with plain water, fruit juice with lower fat milk or plain yogurt, and cocoa with lower fat milk. These should have less than 5% added sugars or honey and a maximum portion size of 330m.

Restrictions:

1. Sugary and Sweetened Drinks: These are discouraged as they provide no nutritional value, contribute to weight gain, and can cause tooth decay.
2. Free Fresh Drinking Water: Available at all times on school premises.
3. Encouragement for Hydration: All floors are installed with numerous water fountains and water Kilner jars are available in all dining areas to promote the use of refillable bottles.

At East Barnet School, we take very seriously sourcing our food responsibly by following the Government Buying Standards procedures and ensuring we are using suppliers that are local and source fresh produce.

Our fish are chosen by reputable suppliers and are Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified.

Key information from this policy will be incorporated into the following documents where appropriate:

• School Handbook / Prospectus
• Staff Handbook / Induction materials
• Governor Handbook / Induction materials
• Student Documentation

This policy should be read in conjunction with:

• Behaviour, Suspension and Exclusion Policy
• Child Protection Policy
• Health and Safety Policy
• Equality and Diversity Policy

We have consulted staff, parents/carers and students in relation to healthy foods and have taken notice of their views in this policy.

The policy will be reviewed every two years.