1. Take up of school lunches Lesley Wood

2. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 2 The School Food Trust The School Food Trust was set up with 4 strategic objectives: –Ensure all schools meet the food-based and nutrient-based standards –Increase the take up of school meals –Reduce the diet-related inequalities in childhood through food education and food-based initiatives –Improve food skills through food education and school and community initiatives

3. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 3 Brief history of school meals in England 1906 School meals service introduced in England 1940s First nutritional standards introduced for energy, protein and fat in 1941 Service provided for all children who wanted them by LEAs, with cost met by Government 1950 Standard charge and free school meals introduced 1967Full financial responsibility passes LEAs who gained more control over meals and pricing 1980Education Act: removes obligation of LEAs to: - Provide school meals (except FSM) - Sell meals at a fixed price - Meet nutritional standards - Provide free milk

4. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 4 Brief history of school meals in England 1988Local Government Act: Compulsory Competitive Tendering introduced. 1992 Caroline Walker Trust publishes new (voluntary) nutritional standards 2000 Funding for school lunches delegated to all secondary schools 2001Minimum nutritional standards for school lunches reintroduced 2004“Choosing health” white paper published, with commitment to revise standards for school food 2005 “Jamie’s School Dinners” programme broadcast 2006 The current standards for school food were introduced in stages between 2006 and 2009

5. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 5 Why standards for school food are needed Research carried out in primary and secondary schools in 2004-5 found that pupils were not making healthy choices at lunchtime and that school meals did not meet their nutritional requirements: School Meals in Primary Schools in England (2005) –Less than a quarter of schools met all of the 2001 food-based standards at the start of service –Pupils chose too many foods and drinks high in fat or sugar and too few starchy foods, fruit and vegetables, and milk and dairy products –Less than a third of lunches eaten met the voluntary nutrient-based standards for fibre, folate, and iron School Meals in Secondary Schools in England (2004) –Half of pupils chose high fat main dishes (e.g. burgers) and chips or fried potato products. 2% of pupils chose fruit, and 6% chose vegetables or salad –Lunches contained too much fat, saturated fat and sugar –Lunches eaten by 2% of girls met the voluntary nutrient-based standard for iron

6. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 6 Development of current standards for school food In May 2005 the School Meals Review Panel (SMRP) was appointed to recommend new standards for school food. Their report “Turning the tables: Transforming school food” was published in September 2005 The SMRP recommended the introduction of a combination of food-based and nutrient-based standards for school lunches: –Food-based standards: simple and transparent, can help to increase intakes of fruits, vegetables and oily fish, but may not be enough to impact on intakes of fat, sugar and salt. –Nutrient-based standards: clear and objective and can help to reduce intake of fat, sugar and salt, but may not increase intakes of fruit and vegetables

7. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 7 Current standards for school food The standards for school food apply to –schools in England only –LA maintained primary, secondary, special and boarding schools, and pupil referral units –sixth forms that are part of secondary schools The standards were introduced in stages between 2006 and 2009: The StandardsTimetable for compliance Interim food-based standards for school lunches September 2006: All schools Food-based standards for School food other than lunch September 2007: All schools Final food-based and nutrient-based standards for School lunches September 2008: Primary schools September 2009: Secondary schools Special schools and Pupil Referral Units

8. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 8 Food-based standards Food-based standards define which foods: –must be provided e.g. fruit and vegetables –are restricted e.g. deep-fried foods, meat products –are not permitted e.g. confectionery Food-based standards in place for school lunches, and food provided at other times (breakfast, tuck shops, after school clubs etc) Food-based standards apply to provision not consumption More of these healthier items: –More fruit and vegetables –More oily fish –Bread –Drinking water –Healthier drinks Restricted or no longer allowed: –No confectionery –Salt and condiments – restricted –Snacks – restricted –Deep fried food – restricted –Starchy food cooked in oil or fat – restricted –Meat products - restricted

9. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 9 Nutrient-based standards for school lunches Nutrient-based standards apply to school lunches only They define for an average school lunch within a menu cycle: –Average energy content (with ±5% tolerance) –Maximum limits for fat, saturated fat, NMES and sodium –Minimum limits for carbohydrate, protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals Minimum limits set – 9 nutrientsMaximum limits set – 4 nutrients

10. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 10 Nutrient-based standards for school lunches NutrientMin/MaxProportion of recommended daily intake of nutrients Nutrient value of average school lunch PrimarySecondary Energy (kJ) (kcal) EAR30% EAR ± 5%2215 ±111 530 ± 26.5 2700 ± 135 646 ± 32.5 Carbohydrate (g)Min50% food energy70.686.1 NMES (g)Max11% food energy15.518.9 Fat (g)Max35% food energy20.625.1 Saturated fat (g)Max11% food energy6.57.9 Protein (g)Min30% RNI7.513.3 Fibre (g)Min30% calculated ref. value4.25.2 Sodium (mg)Max30% SACN recommendation499714 Vitamin A (μg)Min35% RNI175245 Vitamin C (mg)Min35% RNI10.514.0 Folate (μg)Min35% RNI5370 Calcium (mg)Min35% RNI193350 Iron (mg)Min35% RNI3.05.2 Zinc (mg)Min35% RNI2.53.3

11. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 11 History of take up and the survey To be able to measure impact of our work and changes to school lunches, we need to know how many pupils are having school lunches Prior to 2006, data on the take up of school lunches was collected by a number of different organisations –No standardised method for collecting or calculating take up First SFT annual take up survey was in 2006, and repeated every year since Key factors: –2006 to 2008: voluntary survey –2009 to 2010: inclusion of NI 52 (take up of school lunches) in National Indicator Set (NIS) made it compulsory for LAs to report take up for all schools, and to use a standardised method to calculate take up –2011: change of government means survey is again wholly voluntary

12. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 12 Why measure take up? As a measure of healthy eating in children To provide an evidence base –Evaluate short and medium term impact of the introduction of the standards for school food (food-based and nutrient-based) –Track data and understand changes Key element in evaluating products and services –Learn which interventions have the greatest impact on take up and healthy eating –Determine cost/benefits and value for money

13. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 13 SFT/LACA Annual Survey Sent to LAs in March each year Covers take up and other contextual information in relation to school food provision including: –Meal prices –Catering facilities –Financial issues –Policy and strategy –Staffing and training Take up figures and survey report published in July each year

14. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 14 Take up: context Take up of school lunches is a national statistic –Consistency in method, language, interpretation We are the organisation responsible for collecting and reporting on the take up of school lunches One of the SFT’s aims is to increase take up, so we need to be able to evaluate our effectiveness We have, to date, been commissioned by DfE to do the survey: –‘to help them (Ministers) evaluate progress in school meal improvements. In the present fiscal climate it is also important to evaluate the outcome of previous investment and make evidence- based judgements about future investment’. Take up figures are used widely

15. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 15 History of take up and the survey (3) Survey logisticsLA response rate LAs reporting take upReported take up covers Data collection Analysis and reporting PrimarySecondaryLA catered or contracted Non-LA catered 2006 PwCSFT65% (98)50% (75)35% (53) X 2007 APSESFT69% (104)57% (86)43% (64) X 2008 SFT 73% (109)65% (97)52% (78) X 2009 SFT/LACASFT100% (150)97% (145)93% (139) 2010 SFT/LACASFT100% (152) 94% (143) 2011 SFT/LACASFT85% (129)84% 12872% 109

16. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 16 Current challenges Our aim is to maintain the response rates –Robust, nationally representative data Challenges: –LA level –No longer compulsory for LAs to report take up data –Changes in funding and resource at LA level –Can’t get to the right people –School level –Schools reluctant to collect –Schools reluctant to share –Schools not collecting the right data But: –School food remains a high profile issue –We have DfE and ministerial support –We have named survey contacts in each LA, and have established good working relationships over the last 6 years

17. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 17 Take up: 1970 to 2008 1980: School meals de-regulated 1986: Family Credit children lose FSM entitlement 1988: CCT introduced 2005: Jamie Oliver LACA survey SFT survey SFT/LACA survey 2001: DfES standards Imputed values

18. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 18Date June 16Slide 18 Take up of school lunches 2009 to 2011 2008- 2009- 2010- 2009 2010 2011 Data not comparable with previous years based on old method Old method

19. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 19 Summary and conclusions Evidence of effectiveness: –Schools: changing food provision –Evidence from our 2009 survey of food provision in primary schools –Pupils: choices and consumption (acceptance and increased familiarity with healthy eating) –Evidence from our 2009 survey of food provision in primary schools –Pupils: better attention and on-task behaviour in the classroom –Evidence from two RCTs –Currently coding and analysing data from a survey of food provision and consumption in secondary schools –Like the 2009 survey of primary schools this is nationally representative, and includes data on packed lunches as well as on school food

20. Take up of school lunches: SWINPHO October 2011 Slide 20 Questions? www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk Lesley.Wood@sft.gsi.gov.uk