Scottish school meals have improved

The report, which includes evidence from inspections of primary, special and secondary schools, states that Hungry for Success: A Whole School Approach to School Meals in Scotland, has been successful in meeting many of its aims. Improvements in the nutritional quality of meals have been achieved by greater encouragement and opportunity to eat healthy. The successes in the report also include improvements in the social experience of lunchtime, improved provision of fruit and drinking water, more healthy choices in tuckshops and vending machines, and increasing examples of effective partnerships with parents. However, the report also reveals that the progress in secondary schools has been slower. This is due to the influence of adolescent culture with its increased peer, societal and commercial pressures, and greater freedom to go beyond school at lunchtimes. But despite the improvement of school meals, there is still a huge increase in levels of childhood obesity and inactivity. Therefore the HMIE report is calling for further development in health and nutrition, including possible limitations on choice. It also notes that parents, shopkeepers and food outlets all have responsibilities in promoting healthy eating to achieve change. Graham Donaldson, senior chief inspector, commented: "Our evidence shows that Hungry for Success has already made good progress in meeting many of its aims…there remains much to do, however. In particular, many secondary schools need to work harder to match the quality of the experience being provided widely in our primary schools. "There is also a need to face up to some of the difficult issues associated with adolescent culture and the ease of availability of unhealthy alternatives to the nutritionally balanced meals offered in school." Going foward, HMIE will introduce a conference to showcase good practice. Weblink: www.hmie.gov.uk