Food and Nutrition Curriculum

Curriculum Vision and Intent

At The Mendip School our vision is to give our pupils vital life skills that enable them to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now and later in life. Classroom teams ensure the following:

The development of high skills and resilience in a safe environment, allowing students to demonstrate commitment and act on feedback.
Empower pupils to enable them to follow a recipe and substitute ingredients and cooking methods as appropriate, demonstrating an understanding of food choices e.g. veganism, allergies, and healthy eating.
Create an understanding that will allow pupils to become discriminating consumers of food products, enabling them to participate in society in an active and informed manner.
Engage with pupils to encourage them to understand the environmental factors which affect food growing, production, distribution on both a local and global scale.
Allow pupils to explore several multicultural perspectives concerning food whilst developing an awareness and acceptance of diversity within our community.. Pupils will enhance their understanding, appreciation, and acceptance of people from a variety of cultural backgrounds through the preparation of food from different countries and religious beliefs, with Kosher and Halal and other dishes prepared.

Curriculum Implementation (Formal, Life skills and Holistic)

The aims of the Food and Nutrition programmes of study, are designed to meet the needs of all of our learners, by offering a multi-tiered curriculum, that is broad and balanced.

Each level of learning will build independence, confidence and self-esteem, whilst giving a sense of achievement to every learner and prepare pupils for independent living.

All teaching supports learning and understanding in what a healthy and nutritious diet is and why it is important. We encourage pupils to try new foods and recipes that will create a comprehensive skill set to build upon throughout life whilst respecting their individual sensory needs.

The variety of learning routes we offer are based upon what each child needs from a holistic, life skill and positive sense of self perspective.

All of this is cocooned within a fun and relaxed learning environment, where students are encouraged to be themselves and change and adapt recipes to their own taste.

Formal Curriculum

Our pupils have the opportunity to gain an ASDAN Food award, complete a food hygiene certificate, participate in work experience in the food sector and then go on to complete a college course and future career options within the hospitality sector.

Holistic Curriculum

Our holistic curriculum respects the sensory and fine and gross motor skills of our pupils. It aims to develop an awareness and understanding of different beliefs and values around food for individuals and their cultures. Pupils have opportunities to access the local community visiting cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, corner shops and markets. Pupils gain skills that are personalised to them to prepare them for adulthood to make choices, budget, shop and prepare food for themselves and others so they can live as independent life as possible.

Life Skills Curriculum

Pupils are introduced to a variety of different food groups to explore using their different senses through designated cooking sessions and sensory tuff tray provision in classrooms. Staff support pupils to gain confidence in exploring and handling different textured food. Food chaining is used to slowly introduce new foods through daily snack times, cooking sessions and sensory food sessions. Older life skills classes plan and shop for their ingredients, focusing on noticing the prices and making healthy choices. They also have a weekly opportunity to plan, cook, serve, and eat a shared meal together at the Life Skills house. Every learner focuses on personalised skills to support them to be as independent as they can be.

Pupils have opportunities to visit a range of cafes and shops and are encouraged to make balanced and healthy choices

Curriculum Impact

That learners develop detailed knowledge and skills across the whole curriculum.

Pupils to show progression in their learning and understanding through formative and summative assessment including practical and written evidence logged onto Evidence for Learning.

Pupils will be able to reflect on their finished products by evaluating their work and adapting recipes.
The curriculum will offer practical and aspirational life choices, which will assist pupils and their families in preparing for adult life.
To know what a healthy, well-balanced diet is, linking it to the Eatwell guide.
To build on individual social skills and enjoy the process of sharing time with others when cooking.
To experience the enjoyment and pleasure that preparing, cooking, and eating food can bring.
To create independence in adult life with budgeting, shopping, preparing, and cooking food.
To become more confident handling and tasting a variety of foods.