The government has a public service agreement (PSA) target to halt the year-on-year rise in obesity among children under the age of 11 by 2010. More information is available from the Every Child Matters website. More information about obesity is available elsewhere in this directory.
Schools are required to set targets for healthy eating as part of the Coventry Healthy Schools Programme (Word doc.22k) and are supported directly by a Healthy School Coordinator and consultants.
The Schools Food Trust (external website) is the body created by Government to advise on school food and its areas of interest include both school meals, and other foods and snacks sold in schools. There is a national Food in Schools programme (external website) and a Department of Health School Fruit and Vegetable scheme (external website).
The City Council's Community Nutrition Service (external website) works closely and in partnership with other agencies to support local communities on food and nutrition issues.
Guidance is also available about nutrition, diet and mealtimes in the policy and procedures for looked after children (Word doc.117k).
Support for young people with eating disorders is available through Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service. (external website) and there are specific contacts within the service for initial advice for practitioners working with young people.
More information about food related medical conditions such as diabetes and allergies,and food safety is given elsewhere in the directory.
