Case Studies
Mrs Helen Deane-Hall, Class teacher at Loddington C of E Primary, Kettering (67 pupils)
“We have been running the PhunkyFoods programme in school since November 2009. The programme is being used to compliment and continue the theme of growing food and eating healthily, which we had already started to focus on through our work in the school garden. I take three groups of children; KS1, lower and upper KS2, for sessions in the garden and the PhunkyFoods programme has allowed me to follow by providing detailed lesson plans and resources on healthy eating. This has been beneficial to the children as they gain a greater understanding of healthy eating and healthy living. We’ve also tried to involve the parents by running a healthy eating road show and since starting our work on healthy lifestyles I have noticed that children are starting to bring healthier foods in for lunch and are encouraging their parents to buy and cook a larger variety of healthy foods.”
Sue Woodland, Quilters Infant School
I just wanted to let you know what a huge (quite literally!!) success the banana costume has been in our school over the last week. We had someone dress up in it each day at lunchtime – a male governor one day, a member of staff another and even a parent on one day (who loved it and didn’t want to take it off despite the 30 degree heat)!
Banana Man (as the children called him) went in to the dinner hall on some days, the playground on others and then on two lunchtimes based himself in our library to greet the children as they came out of the dinner hall. We had turned the library into a colourful market, decorated it with flags and your fruit and veg posters and set up a market stall with lots of fruits and veg on display. We had then cut up lots of fruit and veg for the children to try. Lots of children tried things they had not eaten before, such as gooseberries, radishes, courgettes, fresh peas, cherries, avocado – even ginger (not a particular favourite)!
The children had such a great week taking part in all our healthy activities in the classrooms which was then topped off with our sports day and family fun day on the Friday. Once the morning’s sports day had finished the parents all stayed for a whole school picnic and Banana Man made another appearance. This was a great success. The children flocked round him along with lots of younger siblings and mums and dads all taking photos. He even gave out bananas to the children. Parents said they had been hearing all about this huge banana all week and could now see why. It really made the day.
I would really recommend the hiring of the suit to every school – we only wish there were other fruits to choose from for next year!!!