Eleven schools (eighteen Year 1 classes) were recruited to take part in the NutriSkill® pilots.
'The Entry Level Resource Pack of the Healthy Eating Programme of Learning was used by the teachers during the autumn term of 2007
482 children completed the evaluations (including 75 children in two control schools, where no lessons took place in between the pre and post evaluations).
Results of pilots NutriSkill® had an impact on the children’s food and nutrition knowledge regardless of their starting point.
There was an improvement in all the school scores, up to 83% knowledge gain in as little as 7 weeks (delivered for 30 minutes per week).
There were also signs of improvement in healthy food choices, which will be built on through continued use of the NutriSkill® Programme.
Teacher feedback was positive about the resource, particularly about its flexibility
‘Some [children] are trying to make better food choices in the lunch-hall’
[There is] ‘more awareness of food groups’
‘Children know about a balanced diet’
[Children are] ‘asking for more fruit for their 5 a day’
‘Discussions were interesting – the children are definitely more aware of healthy food choices and the importance of a balanced diet’
[The most rewarding aspect] ‘was to receive feedback from a parent about her two children during a supermarket trip-the children are now looking at food labels for information on fats and sugars and choosing foods with a low fat and sugar content’
[The children are] ‘talking about what is in their lunch box and relating it to the model’
‘Before we had these resources, healthy eating was viewed by the children as any other subject, but after these resources arrived they were keen to get stuck in. The children’s knowledge has come on so much and they have really enjoyed doing it. They picked up on it quickly and wanted to do it more and more’
[The most rewarding aspect has been] ‘seeing the children progress. They can give feedback regarding the sections’ [food groups on the model]
[Pupils have] ‘a growing knowledge and awareness’ [of food]
[Pupils are] ‘more aware of a healthy diet and are using the coloured sections to identify quantity’
Liked ‘the quality of the resources and range of materials’
‘Loved the large floor mat. The children really enjoyed becoming actively involved in the activities. Large, clear photographs were very useful. Good quality resources’
‘Really good. Resources are fab! The foods look realistic’
‘Durable with many different uses, both games and written work. The children liked the resources as they are eye catching and include lots of foods they eat’
‘Practical resources which children could handle. Clear, detailed pictures which lead to some great discussion’
‘The Children’s knowledge has come on so much and they have really enjoyed doing it. They picked up on it quickly and wanted to do it more & more’
‘Really good and valuable. I noticed that the children were taking in the information taught’
‘Very good resource for children in Primary Schools. Bright, clear resources – good photographs of food items. Versatile resources’
‘Children enjoyed the pictures and games’
‘The resources are so colourful and the foods look fantastic’
‘The resources are very good and enable teachers to present exciting and meaningful lessons’
‘Very clear, good pictures of a high quality’
‘Information is ready and easy to use’
‘The visual resources made it more exciting and interesting for the children’
‘The scheme is a fun resourceful pack for healthy eating’
‘There was a wide range of photographs that gave the children an opportunity to see some foods that were unfamiliar to them
Staff liked the opportunity to talk to children about food and one teacher stated that the most rewarding aspect of teaching this subject was helping children understand how they can make choices to improve their diet
Teachers themselves had made changes to their behaviour with some now going into the dinner hall to support and help the children
Teachers generally felt confident using the resource and this confidence grew with continued use
One teacher commented positively on the opportunity to take teaching out of the classroom environment and for the children to be active
Some staff supported the use of the food photographs with real food
Comments such as [that the most rewarding aspect of teaching this subject was] ‘the opportunity to talk to children about food and their understanding of food groups
Alun Davies, Gateshead Healthy Education Adviser, Raising Achievement Service, Learning & Children stated ‘The NutriSkill resource effectively supports teaching and learning regarding healthy eating and can be taught through a number of curriculum subjects. Learners enjoy handling the bright, glossy resource cards and working on the large mat; linking active, physical learning with knowledge testing
