Youngsters from six schools across the county picked up a special award yesterday for their outstanding work with school meals and food education.
Pupils, teachers, caterers and special guests enjoyed a day of celebration at an enchanting Narnia themed event at Thurlaston Country Park, located on a working farm, where they shared local food and games as winners of the Food for Life Partnership.
They are: St Cuthbert's, in Great Glen; Gilmorton Chandler, near Lutterworth; Newcroft Primary, Loughborough; Lubenham All Saints Primary; and Eastfield Primary and Church Hill Infants; in Thurmaston.
The event was a joint celebration with Leicestershire Healthy Schools with the schools also receiving Enhanced Healthy School Status.
Eastfield Primary school has its own working farm where youngsters grow produce including fruit and vegetables, as well as free range pork and eggs.
Head teacher William Griffiths said: "We've held French breakfasts and cake breaks, as well as cooked for the community.
"Our school farm means that we're always growing our own produce and the children get to spend a lot of time outdoors.
"They learn about where food comes from and it means we're educating not just the mind, but their body and soul as well. We look at the whole child and that means they learn how to look after themselves, how to stay healthy and be physically fit.
"They also learn about ethical issues such as animal welfare.
"We're really pleased to have won this award. It's a great reflection of all the work we're doing here and we're very proud to have received it."
Councillor Ernie White, lead member for Health at Leicestershire County Council, said: "These awards reflect a lot of hard work and it's great to see really good work in so many schools being recognised. Food for Life Partnership and the Catering Service are working with Public Health to transform school culture by getting pupils and teachers involved in growing and cooking food, setting up school farmers markets and improving the quality of meals and the food experience."
Schools have been supported by the council's School Food Support Service (SFSS), which was recently awarded the Soil Association's prestigious Food for Life Silver Catering Mark award; testament to its commitment to providing healthy and nutritious meals. Wendy Philp, head of service at the SFSS, said: "We're delighted to have achieved the Food for Life Silver Catering Mark and to see first-hand how it supports our schools to achieve their awards. We are very passionate about the food we serve and the work we are doing with our schools".
The Food for Life Partnership has been funded by Leicestershire County Council Public Health since December 2013 to transform food culture across the county by developing key life skills among teachers and pupils. More than 90 schools have engaged and are delivering the curriculum through growing, cooking and links with local working farms.
From early in 2015, the Food for Life Partnership will extend to Early Years settings, to establish good eating habits at an early age. Food for Life Partnership is cited as an example of good practice in last year's national School Food Plan. As a result, the programme is being funded by the Department for Education to support one 1,000 junior and secondary schools to increase school meal take up and to provide a 'What Works Well' visit for schools implementing universal infant free school meals.