HES 27 - Catering Services Manager, Pembrokeshire County Council
Report from Mrs Rosemary Griffiths, Catering Services Manager, Pembrokeshire County Council
Re: Healthy Eating in Schools ( Wales ) Measure 2008
I refer to the Consultation Document corresponding to the above and your letter dated the 16th May 2008
I reply as follows in response to the questions posed:
Is there a need for an Assembly Measure to promote healthy eating in schools in view of existing initiatives within this policy area?
I do not personally feel that there is any need for an additional formal measure to promote healthy eating in schools. From my own perspective as a Catering Service Manager I have met with no one who has had difficulty in believing in or supporting the much-needed culture of healthy eating. This authority is totally committed and the benefits of Appetite for Life can be understood and appreciated by everyone connected with the service. Partnership working has also demonstrated the commitment and I feel that no additional measured are required. Commitment has been shown even when faced with severe financial restraints.
Do you support the key provisions set out in the proposed Measure ie
The duty of Welsh Ministers, governing bodies, head teachers and local education authorities to promote healthy eating in schools
Healthy Eating should be part of an inspection regime and includes reporting requirements on Welsh Ministers, the Chief Inspector of Education and training in Wales and governing bodies
Power of Welsh Ministers to specify maximum levels of salt, sugar and artificial additives in food and drink provided for pupils on school premises
Encouraging take up of school meals and protection of identity of those who receive them
The duty on local education authorities to ensure availability of drinking water for pupils
I do support these key provisions, as they are very familiar and are similar to what is expected of us all already with regards to implementing Appetite for Life
What are the practical implications of putting these provisions in place?
As an experienced school caterer, my main concerns are trying to implement the proposals within the financial and cultural restraints that exist. A service singularly attempting to engage older children in a healthy eating culture will be difficult. The freedom of personal choice exercised by our older children will for a long time mirror their choices at home. The school meals service is indeed a large stakeholder in the provisions of a child food but not the only one.
Are there further provisions that you would like to see added to the proposed Assembly Measure?
One thing that is hard to work in the face of is the ability for parents to flaunt the healthy eating culture that we are attempting to encourage by providing their child with a junk filled pack lunch. I feel that there should be more control for schools to challenge parents on this provision.
The school meal service is still seen as a secondary service or supplementary or in some instances an annoyance or inconvenience. I feel that many schools rush the lunchtime period and children are not given the opportunity to see eating as a social event.
I am sure that I speak for many school caterers in saying that the provision of free school meals to all would be a leap forward in the world of health and nutrition.
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?
I personally do not feel that introducing legislation will have an affect on the speed of a society change. Children’s eating habits cannot change overnight and regulation will definitely not have the effect of changing people’s thought processes . The key to success will be to drive forward the healthy eating campaign at a speed that the nation can and will want to cope with.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment,
Mrs Rosemary Griffiths
Catering Services Manager
Pembrokeshire County Council.
