RUSHEY GREEN’S ENGAGEMENT PLAN CASE STUDY

At Rushey Green Primary School, in Catford, they started engaging with parents in April 2023. They’ve taken the personal approach and will speak to each parent directly. Head teacher Lisa Williams acknowledges this is a big task but says they want to make the time to do it.

They have devised a three-part strategy to engage the wider school community:

1. Invite parents in for a food taster session and menu writing activity. The idea is to get families to share their favourite recipes for the school kitchen team to use. These recipes will become part of the school’s menu.

2. Invite parents in for an ‘eat with your child’ day at lunchtime.

3. Follow this up by an offer of free school lunches for two weeks for each year group.

Lisa supported the campaign to extend eligibility for free school meals, this is why:

“THERE’S A SAYING - YOU CAN’T TEACH THEM IF YOU CAN’T REACH THEM. WE BELIEVE SCHOOL FOOD SHOULD BE TREATED AS AN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE. CHILDREN NEED TO EAT OTHERWISE THEY CAN’T LEARN. IF THEY’RE HUNGRY, THEY CAN’T CONCENTRATE SO OUR RESOURCES ARE WORTHLESS.”