HES 25 - Anglesey County Council

Consultation on the Healthy Eating in Schools Measure

Response by the Food and Nutrition Partnership Group for schools and leisure centres; the Anglesey Health Alliance sub-group.  Its membership includes the Isle of Anglesey County Council Education Service, Anglesey Local Health Board, National Public Health Service for Wales and the voluntary sector.

Is there a need for an Assembly Measure to promote healthy eating in schools in view of existing initiatives within this policy area?

The Partnership Group welcomes the Assembly measure to promote healthy eating in schools; it confers powers upon head teachers that will enable them to implement their schools’ policies on health and fitness and reinforces the aims of ‘Appetite for Life’. However, the measure should go hand in hand with action on fitness since they are interlinked.    

Do you support the key provisions set out in the proposed measure i.e.

- the duty on Welsh Ministers, governing bodies, head teachers and local education authorities to promote healthy eating in schools;

We are supportive of this; it would encourage working in partnership and would make partnerships more robust, ensuring that healthy eating is a priority for all.

Healthy eating should be part of the inspection regime and includes reporting requirements on Welsh Ministers the Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales and governing bodies

We agree since this would give status to the ‘whole’ school picture, and would place emphasis upon it. We support the idea that inspectors who do not have the relevant expertise should receive training and schools should receive support and assistance at a local and nation level, prior to and following an inspection.

We welcome the reform that would place a requirement on school governors to include food in their annual report.  However, this too should be tied in with fitness. The establishment of a local performance management system should be considered to monitor developments regularly.

Power of Welsh Ministers to specify nutritional standards, including the requirement to specify maximum levels of salt, sugar and artificial additives in food and drink provided for pupils on school premises

We agree, in order to support the principles of ‘Appetite for Life’, and to ensure consistency throughout Wales that would reduce inequalities. We support the intention to consult with pupils, teachers, parents and catering staff during this process.

However, we emphasize the need to avoid increases to school meal prices and the need to strike a balance with the provision of lunch boxes i.e. the same principle should be in place.

Encouraging take up of school meals and protecting the identity of those who receive them;

We agree, although we are of the opinion that more robust research should be conducted in relation to the effectiveness of ‘swipe cards’ or a similar system. Also, the criteria that decides who should qualify for ‘free meals’ should be reconsidered e.g. borderline families and families with more than three children

The duty on local education authorities to ensure availability of drinking water for pupils

We agree, but local authorities’ financial support is required to enable all schools to install a ‘tap’ instead of water machines (due to the expensive upkeep implications for schools) and any maintenance costs should be paid by the Authority. The funding should come directly from the Assembly to pay for this.

What are the practical implications of putting these provisions in place?

Ensuring that the proposed costs are honoured
Expertise e.g. dietician should be available to support this work
Emphasising the need to consult on this agenda
Consideration should be given to the training that is necessary to support the measure e.g. governors

Are there further provisions that you would like to see added to the proposed Assembly Measures?

It is clearly stated within the measure that emphasis will not be placed on food brought to the school by pupils from off-site locations. We are of the opinion that this will dilute the function of the measure. From our experience of working with schools, this is the main obstacle to progressing with the healthy eating and fitness agenda.

Also, setting a specific time for the lunch break. Due to curricular pressures, some schools shorten this period.  

Do you think the proposed Assembly Measure will achieve its overall purpose and aim, i.e. to enable a holistic, comprehensive ‘made in Wales’ policy on nutrition in schools to be developed and implemented?

Yes, but only this will only be achieved if partnerships at all levels commit to this agenda. It must also be a statutory measure, practical and financial support must be available and it must be linked to fitness.  We strongly believe that schools need assistance and support to enable them to promote healthy foods from home or from beyond the school premises.