1 School food, attainment and behaviour Jo Nicholas - Children’s Food Trust ‘A healthy future for every child’

Free School Meals Pilot Evaluation Aim - to provide evidence of how extending FSM entitlement affected: –Take up of school meals – Pupils’ eating habits at school and at home – Pupils’ BMI and general health and well-being – Pupils’ behaviour, attendance and academic performance 2 models: – Universal entitlement (Durham and Newham) – Extended entitlement (Wolverhampton) March 2009 – July 2011 Independent evaluation published July 2012

Free School Meals Pilot Evaluation The universal entitlement pilot had a significant positive impact on attainment for primary school pupils at Key Stages 1 and 2, with pupils in the universal pilot areas making between four and eight weeks’ more progress than similar pupils in comparison areas. The improvements in attainment appeared to be greater for children from less affluent families and those with lower prior attainment.

School Lunch and Behaviour Studies Aim - to see how improving school food and the meal experience affected children’s behaviour in the classroom after lunch Randomised controlled interventions in primary and secondary schools –12-15 weeks – Food and dining environment – 136 primary pupils, 164 secondary pupils; 5 consecutive days Systematic observations of pupils – Learning behaviour (on-task; off task) – Setting (pupil works alone, with others, or with teacher) – In classroom immediately after lunch – Baseline and follow-up Reports and papers published 2010, 2011

School Lunch and Behaviour Studies Primary pupils in the intervention schools were over 3 times more likely to be concentrating and alert in the classroom after lunch. Secondary pupils in the intervention schools were 18% more likely to be concentrating and engaged in the classroom after lunch. Findings provide evidence that changes to school food and the dining environment have a positive impact on pupils’ behaviour and their ability to learn in the classroom after lunch.