Cooking and Nutrition

Intent

Vision

At Park Spring, we believe that learning to prepare and cook food is an essential life skill that helps pupils achieve together. Through Cooking and Nutrition, pupils develop the skills needed to look after themselves and their families in the future. Cooking inspires creativity, encourages curiosity about where food comes from, and deepens understanding of what makes a healthy, balanced meal. In doing so, pupils are empowered to make informed, healthy choices and contribute to a more sustainable world.

Delivering Grow, Know, Thrive

Our curriculum is carefully planned to ensure pupils meet the expectations of the National Curriculum while fully supporting our school vision. Pupils Know through deep and secure learning, Grow as independent and reflective individuals, and Thrive within a rich, ambitious and adapted curriculum that meets their needs.

Values

In Cooking and Nutrition, we provide rich, hands-on learning experiences that help pupils become happy, resilient, caring and confident individuals. Pupils take pride in exploring ideas, experimenting with ingredients and creating purposeful products they are truly proud of. This creative process brings enjoyment, success and a strong sense of achievement, contributing positively to pupils’ happiness at school.

As challenges naturally arise through designing, making and evaluating, pupils develop resilience. They learn that mistakes are valuable opportunities for improvement rather than setbacks, building determination, problem-solving skills and a positive “can do” attitude that extends beyond the classroom.

Collaborative projects encourage pupils to be caring and respectful. They listen to others’ ideas, share resources and support one another through each stage of the process, developing empathy, teamwork and an appreciation for everyone’s contribution.

As pupils gain new skills and see their ideas come to life, their confidence grows. They learn to trust their creativity, make independent decisions and present their work with pride. Cooking and Nutrition empowers pupils to believe in themselves as designers, thinkers and future innovators.

Implementation

Cooking at nutrition follows the three stages of the D&T design progress: design, make, evaluate. Cooking and nutrition also has a focus on specific principles such as skills and techniques in food. Each unit is taught as a block, encouraging pupils to explore different foods and come up with and make an end product.

Impact

By the end of year 6 pupils have a range of skills which enable them to be resourceful and innovative thinkers. Teaching children about cooking and food can make a real difference to the quality of
their lives; it equips them with the confidence to make healthy food choices as well as
teaching them how to enjoy their food. Learning to cook from an early age can
contribute to maintaining a healthy weight, improving oral health and general health
and wellbeing.