Agenda item

5.1  Colin Gale, Free Healthy School Meals project lead, reported that he had been liaising with schools about visits to look at the delivery of the Free Healthy School Meals (FHSM) in selected schools to support the review. He is planning visits for the week beginning the 27 February and asked the committee to let him know the best dates for visits.

5.2  The scrutiny project manager explained the Islington scrutiny  report on  school meals take up and nutrition had been circulated to give some context and ideas to help with the investigation and visits to schools.

5.3  A member commented that one of the issues for the FHSM review is how many children take up free school meals. The member noted that one of the most successful strategies used to increase take up of free school meals has been to reduce stigma by various methods.

5.4  The FHSM project lead commented that the Hull FHSM programme concentrated on that in particular. He reported that the council are looking at the census information. He went on to say that while the figures are raw, he thinks the uptake has increased in Southwark schools, which is good news for schools and children as this increases school income. The project lead explained that the pilot has picked up around 140 children who had previously not been claiming but were eligible for free school meals. The council is developing a system that intends to miss nobody. He elaborated that as pupils move on to secondary school the council can now use the same methods to assist with greater take up; however it is more challenging for secondary children.

5.5  A member expressed concerned about the number of fast food outlets and our food culture. The project lead commented that there is a policy work on that and outlets now have increased costs.

5.6  A member asked the project lead to clarify the position on packed lunches and he responded that this is a school policy decision. He explained that many do have policies however enforcement is a different thing. He explained that some don't allow it certain foods. It is easier to enforce a policy in primary schools but harder in secondary schools.

5.7  A member asked the project lead how the council intend to capture some good quantitative and qualitative data to evaluate outcomes; particularly given some children may choose pack lunches. The project lead responded that the FHSM is part of a whole school approach, and is not being done in isolation. All schools have to follow a healthy school meal programme. The question of how we can measure the pupils who took school meals or packed lunches can be considered. He said the council may be able to do some samples and undertook to take that back to consider as part of the longitudinal study.

5.8  A Member commented that as a community council we do not subscribe to free school; however there have been some comments on parents saving money .The member asked the project lead for clarification. He explained that the council conducted some focus groups as part of the early pilot and some parents said that they are using the extra money for books, school trips and other activities. The project lead said that he would look for this evidence and also noted that this is a matter of parental choice, some parents will do this, some will not.

5.9  A member asked the project lead on how the council is developing a whole school approach and he responded that this is a small cog in a whole school and whole community approach that the recent scrutiny review into Childhood Obesity and Sports Provision set out.  Healthy school meals are part of a whole series of choices and environmental cues that families and children need to negotiate.

5.10  The project lead asked for clarification on the dates, times and content of the visits to schools. It was agreed that the 28^th February would work for many of the members present and another date would be set once the chair returns from holiday.  The project lead asked who members would like to speak to and members indicated that they would like to find out how catering is arranged in schools and speak to the catering staff and children. The project lead suggested trying a meal and visiting over lunchtime. A questionnaire was spoken about and there was a discussion about the young age of the children and that it would need to be very light. The head teacher representative said that his school have developed a questionnaire and suggested that the committee to visit his school, talk to the children in the school council, have a meal and meet relevant management, teaching and catering staff. Members welcomed the invitation.

ACTION

Visit John Donne School on the 28 February.

Set another date for school visits on the Chair’s return.