Schools play a pivotal role in not only providing food for children, but supporting children and families in times of need.
Pastoral care within a whole school approach to food aims to support vulnerable families to access high quality foods (e.g., through free school meal provision) and identify and support families through food issues such as failing to thrive, eating disorders, or obesity.
Fully embedding pastoral support within whole school approaches to food can bring people together through food in order to build social cohesion that benefits the school, children, their families and the wider community.
​
Our system's map shows that pastoral care policy and initiatives within a whole school approach to food is largely influenced by the priorities of headteachers, teachers and lunch time staff and has the potential to bring benefits to children and the whole family.
See our recommendations below on how to develop pastoral support within your school to support a whole school approach to food.
What you can do in your school
The cost and impact of each action was informed by an evidence based approach to estimates and the feedback of school stakeholders
Cost
Low: our stakeholders estimate this will have low financial cost
​
Medium: our stakeholders estimate this will incur some financial cost or time commitment
​
High: our stakeholders estimate this would require some financial investment
Impact
Low: our research tells us this recommendation would achieve the greatest impact if combined with other activities
​
Medium: our research tells us this recommendation is likely to support achievement of a whole school approach to food
​
High: our research tells us this recommendation will make a significant contribution to a whole school approach to food.
