This initiative took place in an ex-mining village counted as one of the 20% most deprived communities in England.

It involved a pre-school nursery which provides a breakfast club and after-school facilities for children from age three where fizzy drinks, crisps, chocolate and sweets were provided by staff.

The team decided to target this group with the aim of improving the general nutrition of the children attending the nursery. A significant proportion are children in need or at risk, according to social services’ criteria .

The team began by introducing fruit as an alternative to sweets, and bought a smoothie maker to enable nursery staff to replace the fizzy drinks on offer.
The children quickly became fans of smoothies, and then began to accept raw vegetables with dips as snack foods.

Without prompting, the school staff noticed a difference in the children’s behaviour. The headteacher remarked on how much calmer the children were becoming as the consumption of junk food lessened.

At the Annual General Meeting the decision was taken that confectionery products should not be available at all at the after-school club for two out of five days a week.
At the same time, the nursery introduced breakfasts of fresh fruit, yoghurt and wholemeal toast. There was a noticeable difference in the levels of fatigue and alertness in the children at the start of the school day.