At Murdishaw West Community Primary School, we believe that proper nutrition and fluid intake are essential for all children to be prepared for and to take part in learning. Therefore we want to play our role in establishing and maintaining lifelong healthy eating and drinking habits.

 

We pride our self on providing a happy, secure, stimulating environment for all children to be able to learn and access the curriculum. If a child is not healthy and their body is not receiving the right nutrients and fluids they will find the school day a struggle. It is therefore our aim and vision to: 

• teach from a curriculum that informs the children about their growing bodies, its needs and what it means to be healthy 

• to equip them with the knowledge to make informed choices both at school and home. 

• to involve the whole school in developing and maintaining healthy eating and drinking habits. 

• to have a pleasant and sociable dining experience which enhances the social development of all children. 

• to encourage fluid intake with an easily accessible water supply throughout the day. 

• to take into account and accommodate dietary requirements. 

• to ensure high standards of hygiene amongst the children. 

• to encourage parents to support the school in establishing good eating and drinking habits. Nutritionist advice to support parents is available before children access the provision. 

• Ensure all children in EYFS and KS1 take up the free school meal option. This is clearly communicated to parents on the child’s entry to school 

• we ensure that all children feel safe with the menus and food within the school, and that we do everything possible to accommodate children’s specialist dietary requirements including allergies, intolerances, religious or cultural practices as a result, we are a NUT FREE SCHOOL

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Breakfast is an important meal that should provide 25% of a child’s energy requirement and support children to be ready to learn at the start of each day. The school runs a daily breakfast club from 7:45am. We also offer a toast/bagel bar outside each classroom. This is supplied though Magic Breakfast.

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Snacks -All children in KS1, and Reception receive a free piece of fruit or vegetable everyday as part of the Government’s School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme.

As children move up into KS2, if they wish to have a break time snack, they can purchase toast from school or alternatively they can bring in a healthy snack:

• fruit

• dried fruit

• vegetables

It is, however, recognised that there may be exceptional circumstances, medical, religious or otherwise, which may result in a pupil being exempt.

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Lunch - School meals are provided by Orian Food Services and served between 12:00pm and 12:50pm in the hall. The school meals meet the mandatory requirements of the School Food Sandards 2015. School meals are planned on a 3 week cycle and always contain a vegetarian option. The school meals menu can be found on our school website and is regularly shared on our social media pages.

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School meals offer a selection of freshly cooked main meals and desserts every day, often including pasta, salad, fresh fruit and yoghurt. All for only £3.00 per day.

You will need to pay for school dinners through the School Meal Hub app. A link to instructions can be found below.

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• Eating hot school meals is better for your child than eating a cold packed lunch

• They will be more alert, focussed and able to concentrate on lessons

• All meals are nutritionally balanced over the course of one week and are served by friendly and cheerful catering staff

• Your child will learn how to talk to others while having a meal and make new friends. This will help your child grow in confidence

• It's convenient; someone else preparing and cooking lunch for your child saves you worrying about a packed meal every day

• It will help your child to learn about using cutlery properly and safely

• It can be difficult to get children to try new foods. At school we let them try small portions of food to see if they like it and if so, they can have more

• Teaching and supervisory staff are on hand to encourage children to eat all their lunch

• Catering staff quickly learn what children like and will adapt the menu when necessary. They ensure no child goes hungry

• It is the best way of ensuring children are attentive and in the best frame of mind to learn in afternoon lessons

 

Our meals include all the children's favourites and are fully compliant with Government standards which state that we must include one portion of fruit and veg/salad per child. 

 

Packed lunches: We aim to support parents and children in making healthy decisions when it comes to their packed lunches. The NHS Eatwell guidance aims to support pupils to have a balanced lunch and best prepare them for learning in the afternoon.

Drinks

In accordance with our status as a Healthy School, children are actively encouraged to drink water, which is available throughout the school day. To support this, all children are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school. These bottles may only contain plain/unflavoured/uncoloured water. Fizzy drinks should not be brought to school.

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For information about Healthy School Standards, you can read the government document below.

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