Good Food Nation - programme of measures: interim update 2022

Knowledge

Food Education Programme

2019 position:

We launched the Good Food Futures programme in June 2019 which aims to provide an overarching coordinated and end-to-end approach to the delivery of food education to young people and encourage careers in the food industry.

The Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) were awarded funding to increase the number of farm visits and events for school children, with the aim of benefiting around 14,000 children.

2021 update:

RHET have been awarded funding to deliver a programme of 80 digital farm experiences, which they estimate will reach around 2800 pupils directly, with additional numbers able to benefit from the use of pre-recorded material.

Food for Thought Fund

2019 position:

The Food for Thought Fund is a competitive fund that supports food education related projects in schools to help pupils learn about food. Support for our Food For Thought Programme continued in 2019 with 174 schools benefiting from the fund.

2021 update:

Education Scotland have been awarded funding to deliver a programme awarding grants of up to £3000 to 62 schools for the purpose of providing food education.

Scotland's National Chef

The National Chef will increase awareness of the objectives of the Good Food Nation Policy – healthy, environmentally sustainable and affordable food for all, with positive messages about the importance of cooking using locally sourced, Scottish products.

2019 position:

Scotland's National Chef carried out a number of engagements in 2019 in a range of settings including the Royal Highland Show, primary schools and a community garden, giving inspirational talks and cookery demonstrations.

We continue to identify opportunities for the National Chef to contribute strategically to the work of the Scottish Government and enhance our policy thinking.

2021 update:

Gary Maclean has been reappointed to a second term as National Chef. In this second term, he will seek to achieve a number of objectives, including supporting the recovery of the hospitality industry following the pandemic; promoting food education; promoting the benefits of Scottish produce; and tackling food insecurity.

Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007

2019 position:

To improve food provision and food education, and ensure schools are promoting health, Education Scotland will, by the end of 2020, publish a self-evaluation framework to support the implementation of the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007. Education Scotland's Health and Nutrition Inspectors are working in collaboration with local authority school catering and education colleagues from across Scotland to develop the self-evaluation framework. Trialling of the framework will begin by the end of 2019.

2021 update:

The digital framework, Food in schools across Scotland: A self-evaluation resource was introduced in December 2020. The continuing impact of COVID during 2021 has impacted on the extent to which its use is embedding in practice. Awareness of the framework across local authority school catering services is high. Engaging with education colleagues remains a focus. Education Scotland paused school inspections from March 2020.