Town school earns top food award
Children learning to grow fruit and veg
GETTING pupils to grow fruit and veg and rustle up meals from scratch has helped a Hinckley school become one of just three in the country to be recognised with a Food for Life gold award.
And the success means Westfield Infants is the first ever school in Leicestershire to achieve the honour.
Devised by the Soil Association and organised through county council public health teams, Food for Life encourages a whole school commitment to creating a good food culture, serving up nutritious dishes and providing imaginative education around meals and ingredients.
Children involved work closely with farms as well as local producers to develop an understanding about where grub comes from.
A green garden space offers opportunities to sow, tend and reap as well as providing fresh basics for classroom cooking.
The aim is to broaden the youngsters’ horizons in culinary styles and foster a greater appreciation and knowledge of what we eat and where it originates.
After taking part in sessions, including a lunch club, pupils become more confident with new foodstuffs, particularly fresh fruit and vegetables, ultimately leading to a healthier lifestyle.
Jill MacLauchlan, Westfield Infant School’s headteacher said: “Staff, governors, parents, carers and most importantly the pupils of the school are very proud we have been awarded the Food for Life gold Award. This has been achieved as the result of a great deal of hard work by the whole school community.”
This resulted in a food themed celebration with recounts of favourite foodie experiences from both pupils and teachers and the surprise announcement of a whole school picnic.
Councillor Ernie White, lead member for health and sport at Leicestershire County Council said: “Food for Life has been an integral aspect of public health delivery, supporting and enabling pupils and the wider community to develop a healthier relationship with food. We are incredibly proud of Westfield Infants achievement to become our first Food for Life Gold School in Leicestershire and one of only three infant schools in the country.”