Skill Up Start Cooking!Preparing for compulsory cooking activities in the primary curriculum

Jane Sixsmith, Director of Focus on Food

September 2014 Cooking and Nutrition compulsory for all children up to the age of 14As part of their work with food, pupils should be taught how to cook and apply the principles of nutrition and healthy eating. Instilling a love of cooking in pupils will also open a door to one of the great expressions of human creativity. Learning how to cook is a crucial life skill that enables pupils to feed themselves and others affordably and well, now and in later life.

D&T curriculum KS1-3

Why teach cooking skills?• Children love to cook –this is something

that everyone can achieve in• Children are more likely to try new

foods if they have cooked them from scratch

• Many children don’t get a positive experience of cooking at home so it’s up to school to provide the opportunity

• Cooking is a skill for life, helping us take control of what we eat and reduce the cost of food bills

• Cooking activities can help schools engage with hard to reach parents

Challenges this may bring• Crowded curriculum - how to

fit cooking in? How much and how often?

• No dedicated cooking classroom - where to cook?

• Confidence of staff to lead practical sessions - how to skill up?

• What to cook at what age and progression of skills. Predominantly savoury dishes - H&S issues?

COOKING ACROSS THE SCHOOL• Bring Maths, English and Science to life

through hands-on cooking• Plan in some skills-focused lessons

dedicated to learning to cook• Link with growing, sustainability and

school meals - whole school approach

COOKING FACILITIES• Assess the space you’ve got and think

creatively• Invest in a good set of equipment and

use it only for cooking • Establish systems of best practice for

cooking in the classroom

UP-SKILLING STAFF • Food Safety training for all (not a legal

requirement but recommended)• Get some specialist training and

cascade across the school - especially knife skills teaching

• Engage your school cook or caterer -they have great skills to share

PROGRESSIVE CURRICULUM• Carry out a curriculum mapping

exercise - what is cooked, when, why?• Plan cooking into the curriculum like

other subjects and projects• Develop pupils’ cooking skills across the

key stages, avoid too much repetition and build a repertoire of dishes

Rising to the challenge

Focus on Food SuccessesNew cooking room design

School cooks training and support

Whole school approach to

curriculum planning

Oakmeadow PS

Leys Farm JS

Kirklees Caterers

We are here to help• Skill Up Start Cooking

resource pack with 32 tried & tested recipes for 3-11yr olds

• Skills Snippets videos• Cook School recipe app • CPD on a Cooking Bus, at our

Cooking School or delivered in school

• COOKIT – quality equipment • Advisory service• Hire a Cooking Bus for

inspirational cooking sessions

Cooking in Schools - Cooking Towards a Healthier Future

26th or 27th MARCH 2014 9am – 4pm (choice of date available)

Dean Clough, Halifax, HX3 5AX

An inspiring, full day practical session on how to teach healthy, educational cooking lessons.

Aimed at primary, secondary and SEN teachers to keep up to date with The School Food Plan and new curriculum featuring cooking from age 5.

Contact: