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Policies
Food Policy
1 Introduction
1.1 We are committed to ensuring that the children in our care grow into healthy adults, this being the first of the five principal requirements of the Children Act 2004 ('Every Child Matters'), i.e. that they:
· be healthy;
· stay safe;
· enjoy and achieve;
· make a positive contribution;
· achieve economic well-being.
1.2 Consequently, this school does its utmost to teach children the key points about living a healthy life, including the importance of eating healthy food. We are working towards achievement of the National Healthy School Standard, and our Whole-School Food Policy is designed to contribute a vital element to our strategy of creating a school environment in which children can thrive. We believe that it is only through a whole-school approach that the key messages about food and drink can be really effectively conveyed. This document sets out our policy on this.
2 Aims and objectives
– To help children know and understand the importance of food and drink in a healthy lifestyle.
– To help children learn what healthy food is.
– To give children the skills they need to make the right choices with regard to food and drink.
– To promote the physical and emotional well-being of all our children.
– To meet the National Standard for Healthy School food
3 The curriculum
3.1 We will plan explicit teaching about healthy eating in our formal curriculum. For example, we will teach children about the preparation and cooking of healthy food in design technology classes, while in geography lessons, children will learn where food comes from and how it reaches the shops. In science, we will teach about nutrition and the needs of a healthy body. Through mathematics, we will teach children to measure and calculate size and weight. In English, we will provide opportunities for children to discuss, read and write about health-related issues, and why some parts of the world have a surplus of food, while other parts have famine. In religious education, children will learn about how food is valued in different societies, and the part food plays in religious custom and practice. In physical education, children will have the opportunity to learn how their body reacts to exercise, and the importance of food and drink to participation in sport and dance. In PSHE, children will have the opportunity to reflect on food-related issues such as how food is advertised, and how we can enjoy treats without damaging our bodies.
3.2 We will also promote healthy eating through the informal curriculum. For example, we will promote healthy eating in assemblies. We will encourage children to participate in school games clubs and sports, and so learn the enjoyment of a healthy lifestyle. We will organise school visits to outdoor pursuit centres, and provide opportunities for children to explore the natural world. Our school site will be fully exploited in the interest of the children's physical and emotional development through playground activities.
4 The school environment
4.1 We will ensure that our school environment promotes healthy eating. We will not allow children to bring sweets, crisps or chocolate into school, except for birthdays.
4.3 We will not have vending machines on the school site that dispense sweets or chocolate.
5 School lunches
5.1 We will serve only healthy food and drink for our school lunches. The lunches will be prepared by our school contractors, who will not be granted a tender unless they make a commitment to provide healthy food. A basic requirement will be that they provide a vegetarian option each day, that they always serve vegetables and fruit, and that all lunches have a balanced nutritional value.
5.2 The parents or carers of children who bring packed lunches will be made aware of our healthy-school policy, and given clear guidance about what should be included in a healthy packed lunch.
5.3 Our service provider meets the standards for school food.
5.4 Menus are displayed on the weekly school newsletter, on the notice board outside the school and on school website. The menus are displayed seven days in advance to allow parents and children the opportunity to discuss meal choices for the upcoming week.
6 Breaktime Snacks
Children will be encouraged to bring fruit, vegetables, breadsticks, sandwiches, nuts (without added sugar or salt) or cheese to eat at break times if they wish to have a snack. They will not be allowed to eat crisps or sweets.
7 Breakfast Club
We will serve three types of cereals (including one wholegrain variety) served with semi-skimmed milk, toast (including a wholegrain option), fruit (from a local greengrocer) and drinks (either water or fruit juice).
8 Drinks in school
We will encourage children to drink plenty of water through our policy of expecting every child to have a water bottle on their desks.
9 Food outside of school hours
The food served at the out-of-school club will be in line with the guidelines set out in the School Food Trust guide. Snacks brought in by the children will be in line with the school’s snack guidelines.
10 Role of parents and carers
10.1 We will work closely with parents and carers to ensure that the messages about food and drink we give in school are reinforced and supported at home.
10.2 We expect all parents and carers who send their children to our school to respect our healthy food policy and to support it fully through the food they give their children to bring to school.
11 Monitoring and review
11.1 The governing body will monitor this policy to ensure that our children are taught the importance of healthy eating. It will be reviewed on a regular basis, and at least once every two years.
Sex Education
Sex education is an integral part of R.E., Science, Health, Personal and Social Education. It will be appropriate to the pupils’ age and experience and will be presented within a moral, family-oriented and Christian framework.
If parents wish to withdraw their children from this area of the curriculum they should discuss this with the Headteacher, and place their request in writing.
Charging and Remissions Policy
In conformity with the requirements of the Education Reform Act, 1988, it is the policy of the Governing Body:
1. Not to charge for books, materials, equipment, instruments provided in connection with the National Curriculum, statutory Religious Education or in preparation for public examinations, except where parents have indicated in advance a desire to purchase the product.
2. To reserve the right to charge for music tuition within school hours when it is an optional extra and not part of the National Curriculum.
3. To levy a charge for activities wholly, or mainly outside school hours, which are not part of the National Curriculum.
4. To seek payment from parents for damage to, or loss of, school property, caused wilfully or negligently by the children.
5. To charge for all board and lodging costs on residential visits, except for families in receipt of Income Support or Family Credit.
6. That where a charge is to be made, it be made known in advance of the activity.
7. That when a charge cannot be made for an activity, either in or outside of school time, to ask parents for voluntary contributions ensuring that no child is excluded from the activity through inability or unwillingness to make a voluntary contribution. However, in the event of insufficient voluntary contributions being received, the event will not be able to take place.
8. To leave to the Headteacher’s decision the proportion of costs of an activity which should be charged to public or non-public funds.
9. To delegate to the Headteacher the determination of any individual case arising from the implementation of this policy.
Smoking policy
The Governors have agreed that The William de Yaxley School should be a non-smoking environment.
Pupils will be taught about the health issues of smoking as part of the school’s curriculum.
Dogs
As part of the Health and Safety Policy of the school, no dogs, other than guide dogs, are allowed within the school grounds.
Statement on Racism
The Governors of William de Yaxley are opposed to racism in any form and seek to promote tolerance and understanding in all our children.
Equal Opportunities
The Governors pledge this school to promote equal opportunities in the classroom, curriculum and throughout daily life at William de Yaxley.
Homework
Homework activities provide an important link between home and school as well as providing a valuable extension to learning time. It enables parents to take an active interest in their child’s learning and we value parents’ support and help. All children are expected to take reading and library books home and to spend time reading every day at home. Further details about homework can be found in the school’s Home/School Book.
Illness/Medicines
Children who are unwell are best cared for at home where they will be more comfortable and less likely to spread infection. Wherever possible, prescribed medicines should be administered by parents out of school hours. However, if circumstances are such that a medicine has to be administered at school, parents must complete a consent form before any medicine is given. In the event of your child requiring to take medication during the school day, please let Mrs. Rossin know the full details. Please send the medication clearly labelled with your child’s name, dosage and time of day to be taken (before or after lunch etc) to the School Office for safe keeping. Your child will be asked to sign the medical log upon being given the medicine. This ensures that the appropriate medicines are given to each child at the correct time of day.
Parking/Walking to school
Parents must not park in the staff car park. This is to allow parking for staff, parents and pupils with disabilities, and taxis. There is plenty of space in the car parks across the road, and indeed we would like to encourage more children to walk to school. If the journey is too far for you then a good idea is to drive some of the way and let the children walk the rest. This has the essential benefit for children’s health of having a good walk during part of their day.
All schools are being asked to encourage this in order to provide children with more exercise and to reduce the amount of traffic around schools.
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