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Aims
and objectives
In
order to influence a system, it is necessary to first understand how it
operates! The HET INDICATES will provide a framework of understanding
and data for those wishing to work within the school meals system This
will be achieved by providing an insight into the characteristics of current
school catering provision in English schools; explaining the current regulations;
reflecting on the roles and responsibilities of the key players; and collecting
vital facts and figures.
The database will form a baseline from which regular (annual) reviews
will be carried out. This will provide opportunity to
§ Compare school meal provision with the requirements of the Government's
Nutrition Standards for School Lunches (effective from April 2001).
§ Demonstrate and publicise progress made towards improving school
foodservice provision.
§ Begin to assess any changes to the potential contribution the school
foodservice can make towards improving children's eating habits/food intake.
The
purpose of the database is not to monitor or highlight bad practices,
so much as to demonstrate good practice and provide examples of good practice
for adoption elsewhere.
It will provide a vehicle through which good catering practices can be
publicised and rewarded.
It will provide a mechanism for public communication of quality changes
in school catering provision.
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| Description
of the database |
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Despite
the common recognition that the nutritional quality of school meals needs
to be improved and the consequent introduction of Nutrition Standards
for school meals in April 2001, there is no readily available and comprehensive
source of information on the range and quality of school meal provision
in England.
This
Database aims to fill that void. It will become a collection of data describing
the current status of schools catering provision in England. It will focus
on gathering information on agreed priority areas of interest, such as
the provision of fruit and vegetables and cost analyses across the country.
The database will rely wholly on the quality of data supplied by contributors
and indeed on the support and cooperation from all potential contributors.
In
future years the database will become a monitoring tool for tracking changes
in school meal provision since it is planned to complete biennial reviews.
The
flexible nature of the database will allow specific areas of interest
to be investigated at intervals and results reported through the HET website
for general access.
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| Description
of data/ fields of interest |
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The
results from the initial trawl of the SNAG News
readership for issues of concern that should be included
within the database revealed the following results:
· Influencing children's food choices
· Catering issues-menus
· Budgetary issues
· School meal guidelines
· School meals Services
· Processed food issues
· School meals statistics
· Delegation issues
· SNAG issues
· Education resources
· Parental issues
· Non school food outlets |
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Priority
areas
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It
is clear that the provision of fruit and vegetables to school children,
and education surrounding the principles and importance of a healthy diet
are key priorities for anyone responsible for children's welfare. There
are many initiatives being planned and underway. This database will provide
opportunity to record details of these efforts and illustrate results,
successes and principles to take forward.
Issues
surrounding the relative cost of school meals and specifically free school
meals, deserves close analysis. It is well recognised that the budgetary
allocation for school meals is severely limited. Comparisons across the
country of policies and practices and the constraints in which the caterer
must work can help facilitate improvements in this area.
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| Potential
contributors |
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All
catering organisations with a school meals service can and should contribute
to this database.
Any organisations contributing to programmes within schools for the quality
improvement of food intake by school children have a contribution to make
to this database.
Any organisations or body with a role to play at policy, planning, implementation,
auditing of school meal provision can contribute to this database.
Any school children, parents or school governors who have information
or results of specific projects can make a useful contribution.
Comparative information tracking details of previous practices compared
to current improved practices surrounding school meal provision would
be beneficial.
Links to and reporting on other projects of a complementary nature will
be welcomed and encouraged. It is not the purpose of this initiative to
reproduce work already completed or in progress. It is hoped that cooperation
and sharing of information will enhance all work in this important area.
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| Utilisation
of database |
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It
is envisaged that the database will become a useful point of reference and
tool for anyone involved with school meals.
· By parents, teachers and governors for information and inspiration;
ideas of successful practices; 'how to guides'; reference material to influence
change.
· By Caterers to compare practices and pricing/ quality issues within
different areas.
· By policy makers as an up to date point of reference on practices
and statistics
· By the media as a source of current and accurate information on
the quality of school meals provision. |
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Funding
and Timescales
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HET
acknowledges with immense gratitude the charitable donation which forms
the major source of funding for development of this database.
Additional
funding or in- kind support will help to increase the rate of development
of the database and could broaden the scale or depth of data collection
and interpretation.
Initial
planning and preparation for the database is well underway. Data collection
will commence in 2002 and results will be posted on the HealthEdtrust.com
website as they become available
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Database
Copyright and Production
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The
origination and development of the National School Meals Database is
the responsibility of the Health Education Trust (HET). Copyright and
ownership belongs to HET. Any use of the published material is acceptable
provided Permission is sought from and full acknowledgement is given
to the HET.
Database
Concept: Joe Harvey
Database Manager: Jennette Higgs
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