The Policy Context

1. The Policy Context LINKING POLICY AND PRACTICE - TRANSFORMING SCHOOL MEALS Roselle Oberholzer – Food and Physical Activity Manager Public Health Group, Government Office for the North East

2. Obesity, a growing concern • Obesity amongst children is on the increase • Estimated that 8.5% of 6 yr olds and 15% of 15 yr old children are obese • Levels tend to be even higher in the NE – almost 8% of boys &10% of girls are obese • 3 out of 10 boys and 4 out of 10 girls are not meeting the recommended hour a day physical activity for children • Most children in the UK eat too much fat, salt and sugar and children on average eat only around 2 of the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetable a day

3. A Public Commitment PSA target on childhood obesity “ to halt the year on year rise in the prevalence of obesity in children under 11 by 2010, in the context of a broader strategy to reduce obesity in the population as a whole”

4. Strategiccommitment • Locally integrated children’s services including Children’s Trust, appointment of Directors of Children’s Services • Common Assessment Framework • Joint Area Reviews, Annual Performance Assessment • School inspection • All schools to be healthy schools (DfES Five Year Plan, 2004)

5. Every Child Matters: Change for Children Outcomes • Being healthy • Staying safe • Enjoying and achieving • Making a positive contribution • Achieve economic well-being

6. Local Delivery Plans • For the first time, the NHS Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts are required to return Local Delivery Plans and local monitoring data on: • obesity status of adults registered with general practitioners (from 2005/06); • prevalence of obesity among children (from 2006/07 or 2007/08).

7. Children & Young People Plan • Replaces Education Development Plans and Single Education Plans • Many other Local Authority Plans subsumed by it, e.g. Early Years and Childcare Development Plan and Behaviour Improvement Plan • Other plans that need to be consistent with the CYPP include the Local Healthy Schools Programme Plan • The CYPP must focus on the five outcomes

8. Local Area Agreements • focus on a range of agreed outcomes • simplify the number of additional funding streams from central government going into an area • help to join up public services more effectively and allow greater flexibility for local solutions for particular local circumstances. • help devolve decision making, moving away from a 'Whitehall knows best' philosophy and reducing bureaucracy.

9. White Paper priority - obesity Reducing obesity, especially among children, through: • better diet and nutrition • more physical activity • better services to tackle obesity

10. Choosing a Better Diet: a food and health action plan Brings together, in one place, action to meet all White Paper commitments relating to food and nutrition, as well as further activity across Government to encourage healthier eating.

11. Commitments: Improving School Food • National Healthy Schools Programme – new definition of healthy school status including integration of Food in Schools into the National Healthy Schools Programme with targets to address • School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme – continuation of Programme and possible extension to nurseries • School Nurses – expand workforce and new role • Extended schools – integrated school services that include promoting healthy lifestyles • Food in Schools Programme - package of resources to support healthy eating in schools • Schools meals…

12. Further Action to Improve School Food Investment of £280m over the next three years to improve the quality of school food, including: • Development of tough minimum school meal standards • Minimum spend on ingredients for school meals of 50p for primary and 60p for secondary pupils • New School Food Trust to give independent support and advice to schools/parent • Support for schools in pulling together catering contracts • New qualifications for school caterers • Ofsted to consider provision of healthy food as part of regular inspections - from September

13. Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food ‘Produce safe, healthy products in response to market demands, and ensure that all consumers have access to nutritious foods and to accurate information about food products.’

14. Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative Five Main Objectives • Raise production and process standards • Increase tenders from small and local producers • Increase consumption of healthy and nutritious food • Reduce adverse environmental impacts of production and supply • Increase capacity of small and local suppliers to meet demand

15. ‘what we eat has more impact on climate change than any other aspect of daily life-responsible for 31% of the global warming potential of products consumed within the EU.’ Sustainable Development Commission

16. ‘World fish stocks are in serious trouble. In its latest estimates, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) suggests that 75% of the worlds fish stocks are fully exploited, over exploited or depleted.’ Sustainable Development Commission

17. The Challenge • Raise the nutritional standards of school meals and other food and drink consumed on school premises; • Increase the uptake of school meals, including Free School Meals; • reduce the levels of obesity in children; • Improve the health of children and young people and their ability to reach their full educational potential; and • provide children with the attitudes and skills that will support healthy eating outside of school and throughout their lives.

18. The National Healthy Schools Programme • Sponsored and managed by a partnership between the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills • Overall aims of encouraging healthy lifestyles, helping to raise achievement, reducing health inequalities and promoting social inclusion • 150 local healthy school programmes in each of the English LA- managed by a partnership between the LEA and PCT(s)

19. The NHSP Targets • Sets out new national targets status based on PSA targets and concerns about obesity • “Half of all schools will be healthy schools by 2006” • “The rest of the schools (the other 11,500) will be working towards healthy school status by 2009”

20. What is National Healthy School Status ?

21. Creating a Healthy School • Not a project but a programme • Not time-limited but embedding change • Through • The healthy school process • The whole school approach • The web of support

22. The Healthy School Process

23. The Whole School Approach Policy Development Partnerships with parent/carers School culture & environment Curriculum planning & work with outside agencies Staff professional development needs Healthy Eating Leadership management & managing change Provision of pupil support services Teaching and learning Reporting on pupils achievements School culture and environment

24. Transforming School Meals • The National Healthy School Programme • is integral to the emerging school food agenda to build future capacity and sustainability • is required to engage with local developments and use of resources on the local transformation teams • can join up a number of converging strategies through a web of support • will help to transform school meals locally and support healthier food provision throughout the school day through the healthy eating criteria, supported by the Food in Schools Toolkit.