FEATURE FOCUS: TACKLING CHILDHOOD OBESITY
enjoyable. To achieve this, SIPS calls upon vast resources to develop flavoursome menus. A dedicated ‘Menu Focus Group’ is made up of a committee of catering professionals pooling years of experience (within and outside of education catering) utilising a vast array of recipes to consider menu development and innovation. Dawn Taylor, Operations Manager, adds: “We
never forget our VIPs – the children. While parents and carers may pay for the school meal, the child is the consumer, so we make extensive effort to capture their thoughts, what they like and what is a favourite dish. Valued feedback ensures we are producing options that young people enjoy, while ensuring it conforms to the School Food Standards.” The introduction of Universal Infant Free School
Meals in 2014 was incredibly welcome, although evaluation can be sketchy, and funding constantly in doubt. While the introduction is generally considered to have raised standards, it’s also seen a huge influx of catering providers, some of whom perceive school meals to be a cash cow (as a not- for-profit organisation, this simply isn’t on our agenda). This can be a race to the bottom – cheaper
prices to win business, lower quality offerings which can mean more processed foods and less healthy options. The treatment and benefits for hard-working Staff can also be eroded. It’s also not an aspect
of schools which is officially policed by Ofsted – but should be. Many of us consider that the funding for school
meals should be ring-fenced, so it always goes where it should, but at present it’s included in the overall school budget. This means that occasionally, well-meaning schools with budgetary pressures might find themselves unavoidably or inadvertently spending ‘catering’ monies in other areas. There’s also the issue when meals are linked to
benefits, since the food allowance element isn’t itemised. Furthermore, the free school meals are still badly underfunded – in 2020 they only saw an uplift of 4p to £2.34 each. Given that the figure was £2.30 back in 2014, that’s an increase of less than 2% in seven years. Providers vary in what they deliver in terms of ‘food on the plate’ – what we need is a standardisation of expected menus, minimum expenditure per plate and more fresh, balanced portions; a quest for profits or cheaper bills to schools can often erode these standards. In Sandwell, a number of programmes have
been introduced, aiming to complement the work being done in schools, including the abolition of so-called ‘fat letters’ being sent to parents of children who are rated obese by the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). Instead, all parents in the borough are sent an information resource on healthy eating and wellbeing, not discriminating those who have been classified as obese. “It’s quite old fashioned to shame people into a
behavioural change, with research evidence suggesting it is ineffective and even counter- productive,” says Lisa McNally, Director of Public Health for Sandwell. “It’s one thing to measure and monitor children
– it’s another to label them. We have had 12 years of NCMP ‘finger wagging’ and childhood obesity has gone up, so it’s time to try something new.” Sandwell has introduced a number of initiatives to combat obesity, including its community-led
Stronger Sandwell programme, and a Sandwell Wellbeing charter mark for schools, as well as a borough-wide policy which prevents new fast food outlets opening within 400m of a school. The council’s work to date has already led to
significant improvements in young people’s physical activity, showing that a positive and non- shaming approach can produce change, says Lisa McNally. What’s needed, she adds, is a holistic, system-
wide approach, focusing on body and mind; self- esteem as much as nutrition: “Don’t do obesity programmes, have wellness
programmes; create the right environment – make sure open spaces are there, not just the car park outside a high-rise, for kids to play and exercise. “Until we address body image and self-esteem
in young people, we’re not going to address childhood obesity; give me a child that has a good, positive image of themselves, and I’ll give you a physically healthy child. While we’re still talking about ‘fat’ and ‘obesity’ in a derogatory way, then you’re going to struggle.”
What’s next? Here in Sandwell, we’re preparing for next summer’s Commonwealth Games – the borough is home to the £73m Aquatics Centre which will play a major role. A big part of such sporting events is their legacy, and I believe children’s health and nutrition are at the very heart of this. If we are going to win the fight against
childhood obesity, therefore, what’s on the school- catering wish list?
• Free school meals for all primary school pupils
• Fully ring-fenced and appropriate funding – so all the money goes where it should
• Removal of the ‘profits’ incentive to catering providers • Measurements and benchmarking to track
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www.education-today.co.uk April 2020
genuine progress
• Schools focus on lunches as being social learning, not just a distraction in the academic day This is no overnight, quick fix; it requires a multi-
agency approach between councils and organisations like our own. The involvement and engagement of all stakeholders – from local authorities to schools and academies, staff, parents and pupils – is vital if we are going to win the fight against childhood obesity. It’s part budgetary, part education, part cultural, but a sea change that must occur if we’re to ensure the next generation is a healthy and health-conscious one.
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