Statement of intent
At Thornhill Primary School, we know that what our pupils eat and drink is paramount to their health and well-being.
This policy is in place to ensure that our pupils receive high-quality and nutritious food, and to promote their good health.
Providing good quality food improve children’s health, behaviour and performance.
Food-based standards define the foods and drinks permitted during the school day (until 3pm) and apply to all food and drink provided to pupils on and off school premises, including school trips.
Nutrient-based standards apply solely to school lunches. They set out the requirements for an average school lunch during a one-to-four week menu cycle. This includes the amount of energy and nutrients allowed.
This policy will be reviewed every year to coincide with changing food standards.
There are 13 food-based standards for school lunches.
Schools must provide:
Schools must ensure that:
The nutrient-based standards for school lunches aim to make the food offered at lunchtime healthier by decreasing the fat, saturated fat, non-milk extrinsic (NME) sugar and sodium content, and increasing vitamin and mineral content.
There are 14 nutrient-based standards for school lunches. These apply to an average school lunch within a one to four week menu cycle, and relate to the overall composition of food rather than on an individual basis.
To calculate the average school lunch, all food and drink should be put into menu-planning and nutrient analysis software, together with portion sizes and estimated number of each item. This will include recipes for the food which has been prepared from scratch and any specific product details for brought in items. This should also include any drinks that are provided in all school food outlets at lunchtime. Bread however does not need to be included in this analysis.
The premise for providing bread for pupils is to encourage them to fill up on food rich in carbohydrates, rather than in high fat or high sugar.
School lunch is defined as all food and drink provided for pupils as their midday meals. If some of the food and drink provided at mid-morning break is considered to be part of the lunchtime provision, it should be included when calculating an average school lunch.
An average school lunch must provide:
Nutrient-based standards by age, sex and type of school |
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Energy or nutrient and amount of measurement |
Minimum or maximum value? |
Primary schools |
Middle schools |
Secondary schools |
|||
Aged 7-10 |
Aged 11-14 |
Single sex girls |
Single sex boys |
Co-ed |
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School years R, 1-6 |
School years 3, 4, 5, 6 |
School years 7, 8, 9, 10 |
School years 7-12 |
School years 7-12 |
School years 7-12 |
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Energy in kilojoules (kilocalories) |
± 5% |
2215 (530) |
2328 (557) |
2549 (610) |
2412 (577) |
2985 (714) |
2700 (646) |
Fat (grams) |
Max |
20.6 |
21.6 |
23.7 |
22.5 |
27.8 |
25.1 |
Saturated fat (grams) |
Max |
6.5 |
6.8 |
7.5 |
7.1 |
8.7 |
7.9 |
Non-milk extrinsic sugars (grams) |
Max |
15.5 |
16.3 |
17.9 |
16.9 |
20.9 |
18.9 |
Sodium (milligrams) |
Max |
499 |
595 |
714 |
714 |
714 |
714 |
Carbohydrate (grams) |
Min |
70.6 |
74.2 |
81.3 |
77.0 |
95.2 |
86.1 |
Fibre (grams) |
Min |
4.2 |
4.5 |
4.9 |
4.6 |
5.7 |
5.2 |
Protein (grams) |
Min |
7.5 |
8.5 |
12.5 |
12.7 |
13.8 |
13.3 |
Iron (milligrams) |
Min |
3.0 |
3.0 |
5.2 |
5.2 |
4.0 |
5.2 |
Zinc (milligrams) |
Min |
2.5 |
2.5 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.3 |
3.3 |
Calcium (grams) |
Min |
193 |
193 |
350 |
280 |
350 |
350 |
Vitamin A (micrograms) |
Min |
175 |
175 |
210 |
210 |
245 |
245 |
Vitamin C (grams) |
Min |
10.5 |
10.5 |
12.3 |
14.0 |
14.0 |
14.0 |
Folate (micrograms) |
Min |
53 |
53 |
70 |
70 |
70 |
70 |
These regulations set out the requirements for school food provided across the school day at times other than lunch to registered pupils at a local authority maintained primary, secondary, special school or pupil referral unit, whether on the school premises or not, and to any other person on the school premises.
School food other than lunch also includes breakfast clubs, tuck shops, mid-morning break, vending machines, and after school clubs.
There are 11 food-based standards for food other than lunch.
Schools must provide:
Schools must ensure that:
The School Food Regulations do not apply to food provided:
5.1. At parties or celebrations to mark religious or cultural occasions.
5.2. At occasional fund-raising events.
5.3. As rewards for achievement, good behaviour or effort.
5.4. For use in teaching in food preparation and cookery skills, provided that any food prepared is not served to pupils as part of a school lunch.
Our after- school clubs which are used to raise funds for the Friends of School (eg) Youth Club/ Cinema club are exempt from food regulations but will offer healthy alternatives.
Interpretation
In this policy:
At Thornhill Primary School we are aware of the risks associated with food related allergies. We do our best to limit the likelihood of allergic reactions by:
The current list of allergens includes:
celery |
mustard |
wheat |
crustaceans |
peanuts |
eggs |
fish |
soya |
lupin |
milk |
gluten |
molluscs |
nuts |
sesame |
Sulphur dioxide |
Additional information:
While not all allergic reactions result in anaphylaxis, any reaction has the potential to be life-threatening. So ALL reactions should be taken seriously and treated immediately. Even students who have had a mild reaction in the past can have a severe reaction the next time.
Mild allergic reaction- monitor, provide water, contact parents for advice. If situation worsens treat as an emergency. If pupil has an Epi-Pen use it!
Severe allergic reaction- use Epi-pen, monitor, contact parents and emergency services.
Some of the signs of anaphylaxis include:
Following an incident , the senior management team and Governing Body will investigate to ensure risks are reduced for the future.