Healthy Schools
You are here: Skip Navigation Links Home > Schools > Core Themes > Healthy Eating > Criteria

National Healthy Schools Criteria for Healthy Eating


• Healthy eating contributes significantly to the being healthy national outcome for children.
• Children/young people have the confidence, skills, knowledge and understanding to make healthy food choices.
• Healthy and nutritious food and drink is available across the school day.

A Healthy School…

2.1 Has an identified member of the senior management team to oversee all aspects of food in schools
• There is named member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) to oversee all aspects of food in schools.
• The person’s role in relation to healthy eating is known by staff .

Ofsted self evaluation 6a


2.2 Ensures provision of training in practical food education for staff, including diet, nutrition, food safety and hygiene 
• This criterion should directly support 2.9.
• The school’s CPD file evidences how staff needs regarding practical food education are identified.
• Staff (such as Food Technology and PSHE teachers) can discuss their experience of appropriate CPD – examples might include the local training by community dietitians, DfES Food Partnerships Programme, food safety and hygiene courses etc.

Ofsted self evaluation 6a


2.3 Has a whole school food policy – developed through wide consultation, implemented, monitored and evaluated for impact.
• Parents/carers, governors, caterers and children/young people are/have been involved in policy development and can describe their involvement.
• A policy is available covering all aspects of food and drink at school, including appropriate curriculum links, reference to policy regarding packed lunches/food brought into school and children/young people going off-site to purchase food..
• The policy is referred to in the school prospectus/profile.
• The policy is regularly communicated to the entire school community.
• The policy and its impact is reviewed on an ongoing basis to reflect current DfES standards.

Ofsted self evaluation  2a,  2b,


2.4 Involves children/young people and parents/carers in guiding food policy and practice within the school, enables them to contribute  to healthy eating and acts on their feedback.
• Children/young people and parents/carers are/have been involved in guiding the School’s Food Policy and can describe their involvement.
• Children/young people and parents/carers agree that their feedback relating to policy has been appropriately considered.

Ofsted self evaluation  2a, 2b, 4d, 6a


2.5 Has a welcoming eating environment that encourages the positive social interaction of children/young people (see Food in Schools guidance).
• The school has developed healthy/welcoming aspects of the dining room environment - including display and labelling of food, promoting healthy eating, ready availability of water, appropriate queuing arrangements, adequate time available to purchase and eat meal, non-stigmatisation of FSME children/young people, social dining and cleanliness.
• Children/young people and staff feel that the dining area makes a positive contribution to the dining experience – including adequate time available to eat their meal and avoiding stigmatisation of FSME children/young people.

Ofsted self evaluation 4a, 6a


2.6 Ensures that breakfast club, tuck shop, vending machine and after school food service (where available in school)  meets or exceeds current DfES school food standards.
 Where service is provided: 
• The breakfast club meets or exceeds the current DfES standards.
• The tuck shop meets or exceeds the DfES standards.
• The vending machine meets or exceeds the DfES standards.
• The after school food service meets or exceeds the DfES standards.
• The governing body, the named member of the SMT (and Head Caterer where involved in service provision) agree that the non-lunch standards are being met and reviewed regularly.

Ofsted self evaluation 4a, 6a


2.7 Has a school lunch service that meets or exceeds current DfES standards for school lunches.
• The school lunch service meets or exceeds the current DfES standards for school lunches.
• The governing body, the named member of the SMT and Head Caterer agree that the DfES standards for school lunch are being met and review this regularly (at least termly).
• Healthy options are promoted. 
• The caterer can say how minority ethnic and medical/allergy needs have been considered/incorporated in menu planning.
• There is appropriate guidance (promoting healthier options) given to children/young people who have packed lunches and their parents/carers.

Ofsted self evaluation 4a, 6a


2.8 Monitors children/young people’s menus and food choices to inform policy development  and provision.
• The school has developed a system for monitoring menus and choices.
• The governing body, the identified member of the SMT and the School Caterer can demonstrate that they use data and how it influences developments.

Ofsted self evaluation 2a, 2b, 4a, 6a


2.9 Ensures that children/young people have opportunities to learn about different types of food in the context of a balanced diet (using the Balance of Good Health), and how to plan, budget, prepare and cook meals, understanding the need to avoid the consumption of foods high in salt, sugar and fat and increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables.
• There are Schemes of Work for Healthy Eating found in Food Technology, PSHE and other subject areas.
• The Schemes of Work and/or out of hours activity incorporates age and ability appropriate lessons on a balanced diet, planning, budgeting, preparing, and cooking skills, for ideas and support.
• The curriculum considers the emotional aspects of food, the nature of eating disorders, the role of the media and is appropriately connected to aspects of emotional health and well-being.
• A curriculum map is being developed or is in place.

Ofsted self evaluation 4a, 4f, 5b


2.10 Has easy access to free, clean and palatable drinking water, using the Food in Schools guidance.
• Children/young people and staff say they have access to free, clean and palatable drinking water at lunch time and throughout the day, and have been consulted about where it is located.
• The school is monitoring the availability of water and ensures it is being used by children/young people.
• Water consumption is encouraged and promoted.

Ofsted self evaluation 4a, 4f, 6a


2.11 Consults children/young people about food choices throughout the school day using school councils, Healthy School task groups or other representative pupil bodies.
• Children/young people say that they are regularly (at least termly) and appropriately consulted about food choices – including school meals and food  and drink other than lunch.

Ofsted self evaluation  2a, 4a, 4d, 4f


Find out more at the National Healthy Schools Programme Website www.healthyschools.gov.uk/Themes/Default.aspx?theme=2

Click on the icon to find out How to Participate