Transforming school food for Manchester - because every child matters

The benefits of a good school meal go beyond high quality catering. While school meals only provide some of the annual intake of your child's food, it is clear that schools and catering providers have a vital role to play in providing healthy and nutritious food. Reports have shown that a healthy school meal can lead to calmer and better behaved children which are more receptive to learning. The vision is to provide a school meal service for Manchester which ensures pupils have daily access to a school meal that is balanced, nutritious and has been prepared using fresh ingredients by competent and skilled catering staff.

The new standards for school food

The new standards for school food The School Food Trust has issued new guidelines which include all food other than lunch. This includes food and drink available at breakfast, morning breaktime and in vending machines. For further details of the new standards which are effective September 2007, visit http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/

Below is an overview of the standards for food served at lunchtime.

More fruit and vegetables

No less than two servings per day per child; at least one should be vegetables or salad and at least one should be fruit.

More oily fish

Oily fish such as mackerel and salmon should be served at least once every three weeks.

Bread

Bread should be available at lunch every day.

Drinking water

Free, fresh drinking water should be available at all times.

Healthier drinks

The only drinks served should be water, pure fruit juices, milk, yoghurt and milk drinks with less than 5% added sugar, smoothies, low-calorie hot chocolate, coffee and tea.

This means sweetened fizzy drinks which have little nutritional value are no longer allowed.

The following foods are now restricted or no longer allowed:

No confectionery

Confectionery such as chocolate bars, chocolate-coated biscuits and sweets should not be available for lunch

No savoury snacks

Savoury snacks such as crisps should not be available for lunch.

No salt and condiments restricted

Salt should not be available at lunch. Condiments, such as ketchup and mayonnaise, should only be available in sachets.

• Deep-fried foods restricted

Meals should not contain more than two deep-fried foods, such as chips and batter-coated products, in a single week.

Manufactured meat products restricted

These products, such as chicken nuggets, burgers and sausage rolls, may only be served occasionally, and only providing they meet standards for minimum meat content.

What does this mean for my child?

• The school meal they are served will be fully compliant with the new food-based standards by September 2006.
• All school meals served will be compliant with the new nutrient-based standards by September 2008 (primary schools) and September 2009 (secondary schools).
• All catering staff will attain the new nutritional qualification within the next three years.

New funding for school meals

The recent announcement from the Government to extend funding for schools meals until 2011 is a welcome development. An immense amount of work has already been carried out across Manchester to informing schools of the food-based standards and working with school cooks and pupils to encourage the uptake of healthier food choices.

'Cook for Success' regional conference

Look out for forthcoming details on the next regional conference to be organised by the School Food Trust.

Latest news

A Guide for Parents and Carers from the School Food Trust

The School Food Trust has put together guide for parents and carers. It covers parts of the Government's new package of standards, which are food based standards for school lunches and for all other school food, including breakfast, mid-morning break, tuck shops, vending, and after school clubs. The guide can be downloaded by clicking on the link below: School Food Trust Guide for Parents and Carers

Other recent developments

• Salad Bars have been introduced in many primary schools across Manchester and have been a great success. Pupils are enjoying choosing from the wide range of freshly prepared salad items and side dishes available.
• Staff are being trained on new nutritional standards to ensure that they have an understanding of the importance of healthy eating for improved health, behaviour and education and how they can help encourage the uptake of balanced food choices.
• Throughout November, education performance group CragRats has delivered performances and interactive workshops in schools across Manchester to communicate to pupils the importance of healthy eating.
• Consultation has taken place with parents and pupils across the city to identify their needs to help influence the future objectives of the project. Plans are now in place for years 2 and 3 of the project and we are looking forward for an equally successful year.
• Look out for future details on Training Kitchens, which will be managed by The School Food Trust across the country.

Contact details

If you would like to find out more or contribute to the project then please contact Ian Seddon (Project Manager) on 0161 234 7609 or email Karen Morgan (Project Officer) on schoolfood@manchester.gov.uk