Photos by John McVitty

Enniskillen Integrated Primary School recently hosted a ‘Big Breakfast Week’ for parents and guardians supported by the Education Authority’s Catering Service.

The event highlighted the message that eating breakfast regularly at school or at home has significant positive implications for pupil behaviour, academic achievement and school learning environments.

Over three mornings parents were invited to dine with their child/children in the school canteen from 8.00 am - 9.00 am. On arrival, mums and dads had an opportunity to look at the standardised menus and speak with staff and representatives of the EA’s Catering Service who were on hand to answer any questions.

Russell Allen, EA Area Catering Manager, explained: “With the introduction of Nutritional Standards and the appropriate changes made to school menus, many parents are unsure of what is available for their child to eat at breakfast time. Our job is to update and inform them on how the School Meals Service is committed to providing a healthy meal for their children.”

Nutritional Standard changes include limiting fried foods to twice per week; reducing fat and salt in recipes; having a variety of bread, fruit and salad freely available daily, as well as milk, and encouraging pupils to choose wisely.

Commenting on the success of the Big Breakfast Week, Enniskillen Integrated PS Principal, Mrs. Kerr, said: "Big Breakfast week provided us with the opportunity to invite parents/guardians to join their children at school to enjoy a special breakfast and a social chat before the day ahead.”

She added: “We operate a strong school breakfast club, in partnership with EA’s Schools Meals Service, to support the entire school community – pupils, parents, teachers and non-teaching staff."