Healthy snacks initiative in Oxfordshire schools boosts learning readiness
Council-funded project improves wellbeing and academic engagement
A council-funded initiative in Oxfordshire is helping pupils arrive at school better prepared to learn through the provision of healthy snacks, fostering improved wellbeing, behaviour, and attendance among students from low-income households.
Implemented across four secondary schools—The Oxford Academy, North Oxfordshire Academy, Cheney School, and Henry Box School—the programme is part of the wider cost of living support offered by Oxfordshire County Council.
With £25,000 invested in the scheme, schools have received early support mechanisms to identify pupils who might be missing meals, enabling sensitive safeguarding discussions and tailored family support.
This initiative is designed to mitigate the pressures households face and complements over 219,000 interventions delivered countywide to aid families with essential needs like food and energy.
Schools involved in the project report significant improvements. At Cheney School, Deputy Head Louise Elias noted a complete cessation in self-referrals for food-related behavioural issues at the start of the school day. She said, "Students are arriving at their first lessons settled and ready to learn."
Similarly, Clare Forder, Deputy Head at The Oxford Academy, highlighted the importance of providing access to nutritious food, stating, "The community served by the school really needs support with access to food, particularly fruit and vegetables, as there is such a strong correlation between deprivation and poor school outcomes."
Feedback from pupils at Henry Box School indicates enhanced feelings of safety and support, while North Oxfordshire Academy has reported transformative benefits to student wellbeing, safeguarding, attendance, and engagement.