School meals for Summer – The SHAW Scheme

School Holiday Activity and Wellbeing (SHAW) Scheme

“The SHAW scheme aims to provide a structured ‘Well-being school based Summer holidays’ in three pilot schools based in Blackpool, Bristol and Tower Hamlets. The schools are all located in socio-economic deprived areas of England where need is greatest. The SHAW scheme will provide a daily safe haven for children, a nutritious meal, physical activity via sport, play, social and emotional activities and a wider approach to accommodate well-being sessions for the families/carers of the children.”

Children First Alliance Steering Group, 2020.

The school holidays can be a time of anxiety for many children and families. Such anxieties are often manifestly worse in low socio-economic/deprived communities. Leaders in schools, charities, religious faiths, businesses, government and media have called for a positive change to school holidays that would benefit children, families, school and the wider community.

The SHAW Scheme: Pilot Aim & Objectives

In its simplest form we want children in the greatest need in the school holidays to have a place of safety. To be fed a nutritious meal. To be physically active?. To gain social and emotional resilience. To partake in beneficial activities rather than destructive ones in the local community. To be happy in the holidays.

The deeper outcomes would be to educate parents/carers/wider family members about healthy eating, local services that would benefit them and their families, where to call for help, how to call for help. To give a time for community/sports clubs/fire service/public health departments/local authority officers/ other public services e.g. libraries etc. to meaningfully interact with children in particular need..

SHAW Scheme Aim:

To provide children in need a place of safety, out of the elements with constructive physical activity/play, positive social, emotional games and the provision of a well-balanced/nutritious meal.

SHAW Scheme Objectives:

Short Term:

Provide a place of safety, protection from the elements (both sun and inclement weather).

To offer children in socio-economically deprived communities with a nutritious meal.

The provision of social and emotional activities that cement ‘positive citizenship’ and help to tackle any child gang/nuisance/county lines concerns in the local community.

Physical activity in multiple forms, some unknown/new to the children, some that are ‘playful’ and others that are sporting that are available locally to continue. Also differing levels of activity to attract children that may not enjoy ‘PE/Sport’, to increase their physical well-being.

Preparation of food, so that a direct correlation occurs between the foods prepared and those eaten.

Nutritional activities to increase awareness of a healthy and balanced diet.

Family/carers to be a part where possible, as the children will in the main never buy or prepare their own meals, so a wholescale change to a healthier diet can occur.

Long Term:

That government/DFE funding will be ring-fenced for a broader approach to the SHAW scheme in schools (specifically within disadvantaged areas).

That a multi-agency approach ensues between Local Authority (LA), Public Health, school nurse, NHS dieticians, Physical LA Health Coordinators, Community Dentist, Football/Rugby or other Community Sports teams, Youth agencies both privately and publicly funded.

That positive correlation occurs to learning outcomes/social and emotional health of the children that attend over the summer.

That school staff believe this to be a positive scheme to aid their educational work in term time and not a drain.

That OFSTED recognise such a scheme as a part of a GOOD and Outstanding School.

That out-of-term child nuisance calls, Accident and Emergency visits, CAMHS, weight/health statistics in the community see a positive change in comparison to past school holidays, where no such schemes occurred.

That healthy eating and physical activity increase outside of school in homes and the community.