Evidence base

Academic research and data

The wealth of research out there justifies the work we do to ensure maximal access to nutritious school meals as well as use this leverage opportunity to increase the benefits and impact of all school meals across Newham. See below for a comprehensive list of notable research on school food provision, the benefits of food growing and food education.

School meals:

The impact of hardship on primary schools and primary and community healthcare | Joseph Rowntree Foundation (jrf.org.uk)

Superpowers of Free School Meals Evidence Pack

CPAG: The Universalism Multiplier

Nuffield Foundation: The impacts of Universal Free School Meal schemes in England

The policy menu for school lunches: options and trade-offs in expanding free school meals in England

Whole school approach to food:

Capturing the whole-school food environment in primary schools - PubMed (nih.gov)

‘Doing school food!’: a practical toolkit for adopting a whole school approach

Understanding school food systems to support the development and implementation of food based policies and interventions

A randomized controlled trial of the effect of school food and dining room modifications on classroom behaviour in secondary school children

Good food for all: The impact of the Food for Life partnership (PDF)

Food education and growing:

Growing Our Future: The impact of growing food in schools as part of a broader food education programme (PDF)

A haven of green space: learning from a pilot pre-post evaluation of a school-based social and therapeutic horticulture intervention with children

Is School Gardening Combined with Physical Activity Intervention Effective for Improving Childhood Obesity? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

How Primary School Curriculums in 11 Countries around the World Deliver Food Education and Address Food Literacy: A Policy Analysis

Development of food literacy in children and adolescents: implications for the design of strategies to promote healthier and more sustainable diets

Harnessing the untapped potential of food education in schools: Nurturing the school subject Food and Health

Children’s health:

School Lunch and Children Health (PDF)

Faculty of Public Health: Health of the Next Generation (Good Food for Children PDF)

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