A word about take-up

In recent months, there has been much in the press about a fall in take-up of school meals since the government’s introduction of new standards in food in 2006. The immediate response from the media has been that children don’t like healthy food – they want their turkey twizzlers back. This is largely ignoring the fact that in schools where food is well presented in an ordered environment, and with the full support and consultation of parents and children, uptake has actually risen, or at least remained stable.

Ofsted’s latest work published early in October (7) reported that Inspectors found that reasons for the decline were complex but included a lack of consultation with parents and pupils about the new arrangements for healthy school meals, poor marketing of new menus and a lack of choice in what was offered.

Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education, Children's Services and Skills, Christine Gilbert, said: "Schools that had the most impact in encouraging healthy choices were those which gave a priority to this as part of their day-to-day work. They encourage the involvement of pupils themselves in designing school menus, for example, and worked hard to make their families understand the importance of healthy schools."

In the eight schools (of 27) in the survey, where take-up had been maintained or improved, cooks had tried to reflect pupils' preferences and changed the set menu to reflect both their tastes and the food-based standards.

Ofsted is now recommending that schools should involve pupils closely in developing school menus and in exploring a wider range of food. Dining areas should be attractive and well organised as long queues and insufficient areas for socialising also discouraged pupils.

(7) Food in schools: encouraging healthier eating: 3 October 2007