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<p>The Department encourages a healthy balanced diet and healthy life choices through
school funding, legislation and guidance. Schools are encouraged to have a whole school
approach to healthy eating through the National Curriculum and school food provision.</p><p>The
standards for school food are set out in the Requirements for School Food Regulations
2014. These regulations are designed to ensure that schools provide pupils with healthy
food and drink options, and to make sure that pupils have the energy and nutrition
they need throughout the school day.</p><p>1.9 million of the most disadvantaged pupils
are eligible for and are claiming a free, healthy and nutritious school meal. An additional
1.25 million infants enjoy a free meal at lunchtime, following the introduction of
Universal Infant Free School Meals.</p><p>The School Fruit and Vegetables Scheme also
provides over 2.2 million pupils in Reception and Key Stage 1 with a portion of fresh
fruit or vegetables each day at school. Schools are encouraged to use this as an opportunity
to educate pupils on the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet.</p><p>The importance
of a healthy diet is also included in the science curriculum for both primary and
secondary school. Healthy eating is covered through topics relating to nutrition and
digestion, which cover the content of a healthy diet and the impact of diet on how
the body functions.</p><p>The relationships, sex and health education statutory guidance
states that by the end of primary school, pupils should know what constitutes a healthy
diet (including understanding nutritional content), the principles of planning and
preparing a range of healthy meals, the characteristics of a poor diet, and the risks
associated with unhealthy eating. By the end of secondary school pupils should know
how to maintain a healthy diet and understand the links between a poor diet and health
risks.</p><p>Healthy eating and opportunities to develop pupils’ cooking skills are
covered in the design and technology (DT) curriculum. Cooking and nutrition is a discrete
strand of the DT curriculum and is compulsory in maintained schools for Key Stages
1 to 3. The curriculum aims to teach pupils how to cook and how to apply the principles
of healthy eating and nutrition. The Department has also introduced a new food preparation
and nutrition GCSE to provide pupils with practical cookery experience and teach them
the underlying scientific concepts of nutrition and healthy eating.</p><p>The Healthy
Schools Rating Scheme celebrates the positive actions that schools are delivering
in terms of healthy living, healthy eating and physical activity, and supports schools
in identifying further actions that they can take in this area. This voluntary rating
scheme is available for both primary and secondary schools.</p>
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