Catering Written by SUGARWISE
Broadmead Primary School
Sugar on the mind When it comes to a child’s sugar consumption, what’s legally required, what do Ofsted inspectors look for, and how does the SUGARWISE scheme works? With over 2,000 schools signed up to supported by LACA that schools can SUGARWISE, and increasing demands on voluntarily apply for. The law does require their budgets, we look at what’s legally compliance with the School Food Standards required, what Ofsted inspectors look for, for all maintained schools. Ofsted inspectors and how the SUGARWISE scheme works? look for independent accreditation to The SUGARWISE catering mark scheme demonstrate both the satisfaction of these was launched on 24 June 2019 in the UK and requirements and “going above and beyond”. since then, over 2000 schools have signed up, Working with the SUGARWISE catering around 10 per cent of all UK primary schools. mark scheme enables schools to tick all Experts in regulation and child nutrition these boxes with one certification provider stand behind the SUGARWISE scheme. in the most cost-effective manner possible. This includes Stephen Pugh former head of Catering companies that work globally labelling at Defra and head of research at the can do so in all the markets in which they Food Standards Agency and expert on obesity operate, while independently verifying from Cambridge University, Dr Giles Yeo. compliance with local regulations. The There are no legal requirements quality mark communicates to all markets for sugar consumption or its and nationalities in a uniform way reduction, but there are and references public health W HO government guidelines guidelines of the World Health recomm that children should Organisation (WHO). e n d s that chil consume no more adults s dren and than five per cent Catering marks cost of their daily money, how will more th hould have no an five calories from SUGARWISE per cen of their free sugars. reduce costs? t tot Furthermore, Catering marks do cost intake c al energy om the Department money but are a great way of from fre ing for Education independently demonstrating e has launched its compliance with legal regulations sugars Healthy Schools as well as communicating a school’s Rating Scheme, a scheme holistic commitment to pupil health.
A school using a SUGARWISE caterer is eligible for a Whole School Award. SUGARWISE does not charge any per school fees related to its Whole School Awards which allows use of the SUGARWISE logo on the school’s website and marketing materials. The certification was designed from the ground up to include what is legally required, what is consistent with public health advice and to provide a demonstration of going “above and beyond” at minimal expense for the caterer. This means that the “bangers per buck” obtained from the school are far greater and there is no pressure from already stretched PTAs to help support funding for the scheme. SUGARWISE enables schools to demonstrate independent accreditation in a manner that represents modern best practice at minimal cost. How does SUGARWISE relate to the Department for Education Healthy Schools Rating Scheme? As part of the Childhood Obesity Plan, but in this case voluntary, the Department for Education has launched a Healthy Schools Rating Scheme, now in Beta phase. This is a self-certification schools can participate in and communicate with parents and Ofsted inspectors. The scheme covers both primary and secondary schools and is based on a point scoring system which gives bronze, silver and gold awards based on survey answers. E Issue 24.5 | EDUCATION BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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