Four schools in Long Stratton area receive healthy food award

Four village primary schools in the Long Stratton area have been awarded bronze status for their work on promoting healthy food.

Aslacton Primary, Forncett St Peter Primary, Manor Field Infant and Nursery in Long Stratton, and Preston Primary in Tasburgh have all been awarded the Food for Life Partnership Bronze Award for their healthy food culture.

As part of the bronze award scheme, the schools have started to serve seasonal school meals, 75pc of which are freshly prepared by their school cooks from the Norfolk County Council catering team - Norse.

The schools have also given every pupil the opportunity to visit a farm, cook and participate in food growing activities during his or her time at school, and pupils and parents are involved in making improvements to the schools' menu and dining experience.

Working in partnership with Norfolk-based We Love Local Food, Aslacton Primary, Manor Field Infant and Nursery and Forncett St Peter Primary Schools have all organised Farmers' Markets for their school and local communities. Children also experience regular food tasting sessions, caring for their own school chickens and maintain close links with local food producing businesses.

Judith Jones, headteacher at Forncett St Peter Primary School attended the awards ceremony at Swaffham EcoTech Centre and said: 'Participating in the Food for Life Award has galvanised our commitment to ensuring our children have the knowledge and skills they need to make informed, healthy and sustainable choices for themselves.'