To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to raise awareness of Healthy Eating in Schools: A Guide to Implementing the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Regulations 2008 among staff, parents and pupils.
Scottish Government officials regularly promote the Healthy Eating in Schools guidance to local authority and school staff when speaking at conferences and seminars. We also consulted widely with local authority and school staff while drafting the guidance. Copies of the guidance were sent to all Scottish schools and local authorities.
In addition we have posted information on the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act (the Act) with links to the guidance on the Parentzone website at:
www.parentzonescotland.gov.uk.
However, we want to make sure more staff, parents and pupils are aware of the Act and the accompanying guidance. We are currently developing leaflets for parents and pupils to let them know about what is happening in schools in relation to health promotion and healthy food. Other leaflets are being developed for staff.
Partnership working and involving parents, pupils and staff are key objectives of health promoting schools. The health promotion guidance on the Act, that we issued to local authorities and schools last summer, includes guidance on partnership working and highlights the importance of involving partners, including parents, pupils and staff. Under the Act, local authorities are also required to promote school lunches. However, it is for local authorities and schools to determine how to promote the lunches and the Healthy Eating in Schools guidance. For our part we continue to work with our partners and local authorities to support the implementation of the act and to encourage the sharing of good practice.