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You may remember that we were chosen
as one of only six schools in the South East to be a flagship for the Food for Life Partnership.
A lottery funded initiative led by the Soil Association, the Partnership brings together the
practical expertise of the Focus on Food Campaign, Garden Organic and the Health Education Trust.
Whilst they are working in schools, their aim is ultimately to give communities access to seasonal,
local and organic food, and to the skills they need to cook and grow fresh food for themselves.
They want a new generation to explore how their food choices impact on their health and that
of the planet, and to rediscover the pleasure of taking time to enjoy real food.
SNAG
This term we have been working with our SNAG (School Nutrition Action
Group) to find out what children and parents think and gather as many ideas for improvement as
possible.
Our questionnaire to parents found that:
- Whilst 80% of parents had school lunches when they
were at school - which nearly all enjoyed - only 47% of their children have school lunches.
- 74% would like their children to have cookery classes
as part of the school curriculum.
- Whilst parents supported all the FfL aims they felt that
improving school food and teaching cooking skills were more important than teaching food growing
skills and links with farms.
- 68% liked the idea of a Friday school lunch club for
children having packed lunches.
Our surveys of children found that they would like:
- school lunch themed weeks e.g. Spanish, Italian, Tudor
- plates and bowls (not flight trays)
- more vegetarian food, more fish and bigger portions!
- to learn how to cook
- to re-introduce morning 'Snack Attack'
- to have a visit from a famous cook.
GARDEN GROUPIES
A group of parents and staff have also met with Garden Organic
(new name for The Henry Doubleday Research Association) to explore how we can extend our growing
programme throughout the school and what we do about the children's ideas of owning chickens and
pigs! We have in fact already adopted a lamb (Squawky) which the children saw being born at Prestwick
Farm and are awaiting news on the imminent arrival of two calves at Pierrepoint Farm (one male
and one female) whose different journeys (meat and dairy) we will follow over the coming years.
We have developed a 'wish list' which includes an orchard, irrigation, soft fruit cages and a
handy plot of land for community allotments.
One of our key challenges in developing these growing and cooking opportunities is to find a team
of volunteers who can support the staff with small groups of children. If you feel that you may
be able to help us at all or would like to find out more, please do contact the school on: 01252
703248 or email us at: admin@st-james-elstead.surrey.sch.uk.
NEW WEBSITE
We plan to keep you informed of developments through the
Village News and our new website - developed in-house. You can find out allsorts about the school
by going to:
www.st-james-elstead.surrey.sch.uk. If you just want a Food for Life update you can click on the
FfL logo on our home page and you will be sent straight to that section. We also have a handy
Diary & Events section with information on school events and fundraising to which you are
very welcome.
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