This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Water cooler culture in the classroom
07/06/2005
Fresh, chilled drinking water is now on tap for
virtually all primary pupils and increasing numbers of
secondary pupils also have access to water during the
school day, according to the latest school meal statistics
published today.
The figures show that free fresh fruit is on the menu
for almost all Primary 1 and 2 pupils. This
health-improving measure is just one part of the
Executive's Hungry for Success programme, which aims to
improve children's health and encourage healthy eating
habits that will last a lifetime.
School Meals in Scotland January 2005 shows that while
overall school meal uptake has decreased slightly in the
past year, some councils have recorded major increases.
Top performers include Dundee City Council, whose uptake
in secondary school meals has increased by more than 10 per
cent since 2004. Primary schools in Angus are also serving
up more meals than last year.
Gillian Kynoch, the Scottish Executive's Food and Health
Co-ordinator, said:
"Encouraging young people to eat healthily is a
challenge, but we are making significant progress. Access
to fresh chilled water and free fruit, as well as
improvements to school meals generally, are important steps
in establishing good eating habits that will benefit
children for the rest of their lives.
"Already in schools I see children losing their fear of
the unknown and trying out the latest health-conscious
options. The encouraging increases reported by some local
authorities show that the changeover to healthier menus
needn't put children off."
Claire Alison, Nutrition Associate Assessor with Her
Majesty's Inspectorate of Education, has been monitoring
the roll-out of Hungry for Success in primary schools
across Scotland.
She said:
"There is real enthusiasm for making school meals
better. Many schools are getting parents and children
involved in this gradual process, encouraging pupils to
think about what they want to eat and also backing this up
with education about why they should change their
diets.
"Where this is happening, children are not suspicious of
the changes but in control of them. There is little doubt
that this encourages them to tuck into their school
lunch."
The Executive has invested £63.5 million over the three
years to 2005-06 to allow councils to implement Hungry for
Success, the recommendations of the expert panel on school
meals. Primary and special schools were working to
introduce new nutrient standards for school lunches by
December 2004. For secondary schools, the deadline is the
end of 2006.
Measures under the revitalised school meals service
include:
- Free fruit for pupils in primary one and two
- New nutrient standards for school meals
- Larger portions of more nutritious food at no extra
cost to families
- Fresh, chilled drinking water available free in
school dining rooms and throughout the school day
- Improved facilities in dining halls
School Meals in Scotland January 2005 records the number
of pupils taking school meals on one day in January.