UK

Use gardening in school curriculum to tackle obesity say teachers

The ATL union said a "planting to plate" philosophy would help address poor diets
The ATL union said a "planting to plate" philosophy would help address poor diets The ATL union said a "planting to plate" philosophy would help address poor diets

GARDENING should be better integrated into the school day to help tackle the obesity crisis, teachers have argued.

Members of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said a "planting to plate" philosophy would help address poor diets, increase children's knowledge of how food is produced and could add a creative twist to science and maths lessons.

It came as a report from University College London found young children have calorie and salt intakes which are too high, while also missing out on key vitamins.

Andrew Bradley, a chairman of governors at a Derby primary school, addressed delegates at the ATL conference in Liverpool accompanied by potted plants to emphasise the importance of gardening.

He said: "Within certain areas, obesity is an accepted part of living. However, such areas often have allotments where people can go and grow things so they can provide their families with healthy foods.

"Gardening can be an extension of the government's cookery programme. We can see the development from planting to plate.

"The school uses gardening throughout our curriculum but I would like to see this extended to all schools so that pupils can learn where their food comes from, the value of the food. By doing that, the children can get more use of the food.

"Give a child a carrot and you feed it for a meal. Teach a child to garden and you can feed it for life."

Cecilia Olley, a teacher and lecturer from Swindon, said a better understanding of producing their own food, from scratch, would tie in with River Cottage star Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's recent food waste campaign.

She added: "You take [children] to the swimming pool and they take their clothes off and you think 'gosh, all these children really should be losing some weight'. Growing their own food is really inspirational for them."

Conference delegates voted in favour of calling on the government to study how best gardening can be introduced into schools.

A Department for Education spokesman said: "The primary science curriculum includes content on how plants grow, while design and technology looks at preparation of healthy food.

"We have given schools the freedom to use a range of innovative methods to inspire their pupils, including practical work in their own on-site gardens, and we know many are already doing so."