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Abstract

This dissertation investigated the value of healthy school meals for primary school children. Over the last 100 years in England there have been a number of significant changes to the policies surrounding school meals. Most of these changes have had a positive impact on children’s school meals, however a few of the changes have had a negative impact. Over the last year during the COVID-19 pandemic school meals and in particular issues surrounding Free School Meals (FSM) have been raised by the British press, footballer Marcus Rashford and the UK government. The purpose of this study was to review the history and key policy changes surrounding school meals in England, to see what perception four- to five-year-olds have of the healthiness of their school meals and to see how school meals can still be improved today. A focus group interview and group activity were carried out with a Reception class consisting of eight children in an Independent Girls Preparatory School due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This approach enabled the children to speak about their school meals in a relaxed environment with their peers. The children all had a very similar perspective of their school meals and were able to distinguish between healthy and less healthy foods and most children had an emerging understanding as to why a food was in the category, they had placed it in. The study concluded that over the last 100 years the nutritional value of school meals has come a long way however there is still some way to go before school meals are healthy, nutritious and appealing for all children.

Course: Early Childhood Studies - BA (Hons)

Date Deposited: 2022-04-08

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13880.html