News

Small school success story: Crich Junior School in rural Derbyshire

Crich Junior School, in rural Derbyshire, we have just 50 pupils and – because of tight planning regulations for its Victorian building – no kitchen. Instead, we get lunches delivered every day from a primary school in Fritchley, a...

19 Mar 2013

Small school success story: Cambo First School in rural Northumberland

Our school – Cambo First School – is a tiny primary school near Morpeth in Northumberland which educates village children between the ages of 4 and 9. The school has only two classes, of mixed ages, with a total...

19 Mar 2013

Persuading children to eat their greens at Gayhurst Community School

At Gayhurst Community School in East London we use a “Captain’s Table” as an incentive for eating and behaving well in the dining hall. Many primary schools use this strategy. A table is laid every other week in our...

19 Mar 2013

Improving packed lunches: Ashton Vale Primary School

Rather than banning packed lunches outright, we resolved to make them as healthy as possible. We send out weekly newsletters to parents, explaining what the rules are on packed lunches and why they are important. For example, jam or...

19 Mar 2013

Getting the contract right: East Sheen Primary School

Seven years ago, the lunch service at East Sheen Primary was truly dreadful. Our school, in south west London, was locked into a contract with a substandard local authority caterer. The food was awful, and take-up correspondingly low: only...

19 Mar 2013

Norwich schools help shape plan for better school food

Norwich schools help shape plan for better school food

Teachers, parents and school cooks from across Norwich joined forces on Friday 15 March to help shape the future of school food in England....

15 Mar 2013

UIFSM: Getting the right kitchen

Ideas and advice compiled from the universal free school meal (UFSM) pilots and other local authorities, which have already implemented UFSM. Establishing a new school kitchen is a specialist job. Some issues to consider if converting an existing space...

5 Mar 2013

UFSM Registration Forms

View example registration forms for capturing data on existing free school meal eligible pupils, from different local authorities which have already introduced universal free school meals for primary pupils: Southwark Islington Newham Other related case studies: Brighton & Hove

5 Mar 2013

UIFSM Getting Started – For Caterers

This support document was kindly produced by Caterlink, based on their experience catering for universal free school meals (UFSM) in Islington primary schools. 1      Analysis of Current Take Up and Service Provision Consider number and diversity of school meals providers...

5 Mar 2013

School Food Working Group

What does a School Food Working Group do? A School Food Working Group (SFWG) brings together individuals from across a school to look at its food culture (what it teaches about food, the food it serves, the messages children...

5 Mar 2013