Whole School Food & Fitness Policy

Philosophy

Bryn Celynnog is committed to encouraging its students to lead active and healthy lifestyles.  We recognise that a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle play an important role in the prevention of chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.  We believe that healthy children are best able to take full advantage of the educational opportunities that the school provides.

Principles

At Bryn Celynnog we will aim to:-

• Improve the health of the school community by equipping students with ways to establish and maintain long term healthy lifestyles.
• Ensure that food and nutrition and physical activity are integral to the school community with threads running through the curriculum, the school environment and community links.
• Develop a whole school approach to food and fitness with a shared vision, through lessons, and in the delivery of services (eg catering, E3)
• Work as a school to achieve the Food and Fitness Quality Mark.

Whole School Approach

• Promotion of student participation and decision making in all aspects of food and fitness activities.
• Develop a strong partnership with our catering team to ensure that consistent messages about nutritional standards and healthy lifestyles are given to our students.

Curriculum

The school’s curriculum will aim to offer students

• An understanding of the links between food, physical activity and short / long term health benefits.
• The basic skills needed to purchase, prepare and cook food and an understanding of basic food hygiene.
• Opportunities to learn about food production and its impact on the environment.
• A wide ranging programme of sporting activities both in timetabled lessons and as part of the school’s extra curriculum programme.

Environment

The school recognises that a safe, well maintained and attractive school environment is important to the health and wellbeing of students and staff alike.  The school will:-

• Provide a range of eating areas.
• Have fresh drinking water available for all students.
• Work with nominated groups of students (eg NVQ horticulture) to maintain areas of the school grounds.
• Aim to keep the building and grounds free of litter.
• Operate a recycling scheme in conjunction with RCT.
• Provide secure storage for cycles.

Procedures

Year 1 (08 – 09)

• Set up a Food & Fitness Working Group
• Set up 2 healthy eating clubs as part of E3 programme
• Run a whole school sponsored walk.

[Achieved]

Year 2 (09 – 10)

• Increase range of Fair Trade Products sold.
• Introduce swimming lessons to primary schools.
• Enhance quad area with seating.
• Set up ‘Bryn Slim’, a slimming club for staff.

[Achieved]

Year 3 (10 – 11)

• Joining with the ContinYou Cymru and starting the Small Steps for Life (SS4L) scheme
• Relaunching the 4 R's (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
• Student Exam Presure Advice and Clinics

Performance

• The school will aim to achieve the Food and Fitness Quality Mark in 5 years.
• Regular reports will be given to school council, SMT and the Governing Body.
• Updates on initiatives will be sent home to parents via the fortnightly newsletter.