School Case Story
Date: 2014
– 2015
Name of School: Broomhill Infant School and Children’s Centre and SAPCC
A Targeted Intervention to increase the number of packed lunch children who report that they eat
and enjoy fruit and veg as part of lunch and throughout the day.
This case study focuses on health and well-being with a focus on the packed lunch children eating and
enjoying fruits and vegetables.
School Background
Broomhill Infant School has two from entry from reception to Year 2 with a Nursery attached to the school. It has a
Children’s Centre on site and has recently taken over the management of St Ann’s Park Children’s Centre. An increasing
number of children come from minority ethnic backgrounds and/or have English as an additional language. The number of
children eligible for Free school meals is slightly above the national average of 18.3 %. The number of children with
additional educational needs is higher than the national average of 17.9 %
Context FSM 20% BME 24% SEN 20 % ( SA 75 % and SAP 25% ) EAL 17%
What needs were identified?
Using Health data packs and staff observations together with and pupil feedback it was identified that often packed
lunches were lacking in fruit, vegetables and salad and contained confectionery and sugary drinks
Emphasis was on encouraging healthy lunchboxes with more fruit and vegetables and to reduce confectionery and sugary
drinks.
What outcomes did we focus on?
To increase the numbers of children having packed lunches who report eating more portions of fruit or veg per day.
To decrease the number of packed lunch children who report not eating any fruit and veg.
To increase the number of packed lunch children who include and eat a minimum of 1 portion of fruit / veg
To increase the number of packed lunch children who include and eat 2 portions of fruit / veg
What activities /interventions did we put in place?
Our over-arching aim is to encourage uptake of school dinners as well as promoting healthy packed lunches. This work
therefore linked with the universal work to improve the dining experience for all.
Adults now sit with children at dinner time including with the lunches children. They talk about the different foods the
children have and encourage them to eat a balanced intake and try new things.
All children are entitled to free fruit/ veg at snack time. They are encouraged and expected to take a piece even if they are
not sure they want to eat it and are encouraged to use other senses to explore it e.g. Touch, smell.
As an incentive a golden packed lunch award was introduced on a Thursday. This is awarded to the class that had been trying
to eat fruit and vegetables in their packed lunch boxes. (There is a similar award for those eating fruit and veg from school
dinners) The class who had the highest amount of children trying and eating their fruit and vegetables at lunchtime gains
the award.
In the classroom -Eden came in and held cookery workshops for every child in the school and each class each had a turn at
using the smoothie bike. This was a good time to talk about eating healthily and eating five portions of fruit and vegetables
a day in addition to the schools progressive DT and PSHE curriculum.
The parents were sent home information in newsletters promoting healthy packed lunches and informing them of the Golden
packed lunch award. The children had a healthy eating week where they focussed on 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a
day. Healthy eating was covered across all the age ranges through curriculum work. This was a strong message that was
conveyed throughout the week and by the end most children new that they needed to eat at least 5 portion s of fruit and
vegetables.
What did we achieve and how did we know?
We achieved:
A 12% increase in the numbers of children reporting having eaten some fruit/veg before school
A 13% decrease in children reporting eating no fruit or vegetables the day before the survey
A 5% decrease in children with packed lunches bringing no portions of fruit or veg as part of lunch.
A 16% increase in children bringing and eating 2 or more portions fruit / vegetables as part of a healthier packed
lunch
A Tamsin in Year 2 says:
I have a lot more fruit and vegetables in my lunchbox. I really enjoy having apples or bananas for my lunch. It is a good time
to sit and talk to my friends.
The mother of Adeel in Reception: I have noticed my child talk a lot more about the healthy food they would like in
their lunch box. I am also really pleased that they are trying more healthy food at lunchtime.
A governor says: I have noticed an increase in the amount of fruit of vegetables in children’s lunchboxes and the
children are eating more healthy food choices in their lunchboxes.
A Kath Senior a teacher in Reception says: the children have responded really well to the golden packed lunch
box award and they are eager to find out which class has won the award each week. It is also pleasing to hear the children
discussing the different healthy food choices they have in their packed lunches.
The head teacher says:The children are able to have their packed lunch in a calm and enjoyable environment. I am
pleased to see there has been an increase in the portions of fruit and vegetables in the children’s packed lunches.
The Future
We will continue to encourage children to have healthy food choices in their packed lunch boxes. This is in line with our
whole school food policy which outlines that children should not bring in fizzy drinks, crisps or sweets. This policy will be
shared with parents every year. This is an addition to our progressive DT, PSHE, PSED and Growing and cooking curriculum.
We will be continuing to encourage uptake of school meals and continue to monitor and improve the packed lunches