School Food

Tuesday 28th September 2010, The Royal Society - London, 08:30 - 13:55 (half day)

School Food: Healthy Children, Healthy Minds

Overview

In 2005 the School Food Trust was set up with the remit to improve the meals provided in schools and promote understanding about the importance of healthy school food. As the Trust reaches its fifth anniversary, this event will examine the future challenges facing the school food industry.

The food children eat has a significant impact on their performance in school. Eating a balanced diet during the school day is crucial in improving the health and academic attainment of pupils. Prior to the introduction of the School Food Trust, many school meal services had a reputation for providing unhealthy meals with an emphasis on cost savings. With sustained investment and clear nutritional guidelines, school food is transforming.

The former Labour government pledged £650million between 2005 - 2011 to improve the quality and take-up of school food. £150million has been provided on a match funding basis specifically for the creation and refurbishment of kitchen and dining facilities. In May 2010, the coalition government announced public spending cuts for the school food sector, this requires the School Food Trust to find savings of £1million. Michael Gove also recently announced plans to scrap the extension of free school meals.

In September 2009 the Trust rolled-out school meal standards to all secondary schools in England, setting new nutritional requirements for the provision of healthy school lunches. These requirements limited the amount of saturated fats in school meals and set minimum levels of core nutrients. In the London Borough of Greenwich recent studies found pupil attainment rose in all the key subject areas after schools participated in Jamie Oliver’s healthy eating campaign and absenteeism fell by 15%. One year on from the introduction of the nutrient-based standards, this forum will examine the work undertaken in schools to meet the new regulations.

This forum will give delegates the opportunity to discuss future challenges facing schools and local authorities in providing healthy school meals and the impact of possible budget cuts. Sessions will look at the impact of the nutrient-based standards and how schools and local authorities can continue to meet the requirements and increase school meal up-take.

Agenda

08:30	Registration and Coffee
09:10	Chair’s Welcome Address Libby Grundy MBE, Director, Food for Life Partnership (CONFIRMED)
09:15	Opening Keynote: The School Food Trust: Achievements and Challenges for the Future The achievements and future challenges for the School Food Trust Increasing school food take up in a tough economic environment Million Meals - the drive towards increasing take up The future for free school meals Food and nutrition in early-years Inspiring innovation in school food provision Reducing inequalities through food education and provision Improving skills and knowledge -teaching young people about the provenance and environmental impact of food Engaging parents in the healthy schools agenda Judy Hargadon, Chief Executive, School Food Trust (CONFIRMED)
09:35	Funding and Procurement of School Food In-house and contracted school food services - ensuring services meet the needs of users The impact of the recession - re-negotiating contracts Striking the balance between value for money and improving standards Sustainable procurement - considering the impact on the environment Local sourcing - supporting local businesses and reducing food miles Working in partnerships to reduce costs and improve efficiency The link between healthy school food, rising pupil attainment and a 15% reduction in absenteeism Deborah Clarke, Head of Service, MetroFresh, Wigan Council (CONFIRMED)
09:55	The School Fringe - Responding to Alternative Food Outlets The impact of fast food outlets on school meal take-up Strategies for dealing with fast food outlets and convenience stores Engaging with alternative food outlets The nutritional content of 'fringe-food' How can young people be encouraged to use in-school food sources? What more can schools and local authorities do to encourage meal take-up? The impact of well-designed accessible dining facilities Professor Jack Winkler, Director, Nutrition Policy Unit (CONFIRMED)
10:15	Questions and Answers Session
10:40	Coffee Break and Networking
11:10	Making the Case for Healthy School Food The link between school food and pupil attainment Food and the curriculum - the Licence to Cook Programme Reducing health and social inequalities Tackling rising obesity rates Reducing the burden on the NHS through healthy eating Jackie Schneider, Chair, Merton Parents for Better Food in Schools (CONFIRMED)
11:30	Delivering Healthy School Meals Meeting the nutrient-based standards - one year on Effective management - resources, staffing and running 21st century kitchens Ensuring the workforce have the rights skills and equipment to provide healthy school meals The role of technology in delivering school food - planning and delivering healthy meals Christine Lewis, National Officer, Unison (CONFIRMED)
11:50	Case Study – An Innovative School Food Policy Driving the healthy school food agenda Increasing school food uptake to 80%+ Transforming school food and ensuring lasting outcomes Behavioural change - how to discourage pupils from eating unhealthy food from outside the school gates The school as a community resource - engaging with families about healthy eating The lifelong benefits of a healthy childhood diet The ongoing priorities for developing school food David Maddison, Headteacher, St Peter's CE Primary School, East Bridgford, Nottingham (CONFIRMED)
12:10	School Food – Securing Children’s Health and Well-being The long term benefits of healthy school food The role of healthy meals in preventing illness The successes of Change4 Life How should stakeholders be supported to deliver healthy school food How can young people be encouraged to take up healthy school meals Engaging parents and families in the drive to improve childhood health and well-being Dr Mitch Blair, Healthy Lifestyle Officer, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and Reader, Paediatrics and Child Public Health, Division of Medicine, Imperial College London (CONFIRMED)
12:30	Questions and Answers
12:55	Lunch and Networking
13:55	Close

* programme subject to change without notice

Exhibitor

Highland Spring

Audience

The audience will be comprised of central government departments & bodies, including the Department of Health, Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs. Further representatives from local authorities, directors of education, children and youth services, directors of public health, heads of healthy school programmes and heads of nutrition. School representatives including head teachers and principals, design and technology teachers, food science teachers, school governors, education welfare managers, extended school managers, full service school coordinators, parent teacher associations, school improvement advisors, academia, lifestyle clinicians, teaching unions, facilities manager, catering managers, catering representatives, catering suppliers, nutritionists, dieticians and representatives from the private and third sector.