___________________ Food Technology Curriculum

Food and nutrition is taught at an appropriate level throughout each pathway. All pupils have access to a range of topics that provide an opportunity to learn about the types of food and drink available, their nutritional composition, digestion and the function of different nutrients in contributing to health and how their body responds to exercise.

All pupils have access to a minimum of one specialist Food Technology lesson and are encouraged to discover new foods through curriculum based tasting sessions and sensory cookery experiences. The opportunity to learn about where food comes from is taught through practical work with food, including access to the edible garden to grow food plants, preparation and cooking of savoury and sweet dishes and designing and making food products.

Pupils also experience and learn about different foods through the celebration of a range of religious festivals and cultural events.

Riverside Bridge School aim to provide a cookery club, developing basic skills in planning, preparation and cooking healthy meals and an understanding of basic food hygiene.

Pupils are also involved in growing foods in the Edible garden, developing an understanding of where food comes from. From time to time, off-site visits may be planned to local allotments, supermarkets or farms.

Pupils are made aware of the importance of a healthy diet and learn to recognise the links between healthy diet and physically activity for both their short term and long term wellbeing. Pupils learn about the care of their bodies, including their teeth (dental health scheme) and the impact different dietary choices as they grow and age.

Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing, they are taught how to develop a healthy lifestyle and how to address issues such as body image. Students also have the opportunity to learn about food allergies and how to be safe with food.

We also want our pupils to learn about the principles of nutrition and healthy eating as well as instilling a love of cooking as learning how to cook is a life skill which will enable all our pupils to feed themselves and others well in later life. As part of the Food Technology curriculum which is delivered by a specialist teacher a minimum of once a week, pupils learn how to make healthy choices in relation to food and drinks; learn how to appreciate food from different countries and cultures; how to shop for the ingredients needed for their recipes and pay for them; and how to maintain good hygiene when it comes to cooking and eating. We also ensure all pupils participate in food events like Chinese New Year Fortune Cookies day,Pancake Day, etc.. so they learn how to participate in group activities, engage positively in interaction with peers and receive peers’ feedback positively.

We want our pupils to learn about the principles of nutrition and healthy eating as well as instilling a love of cooking as learning how to cook is a life skill which will enable all our pupils to feed themselves and others well in later life.  As part of the Food Technology curriculum which is delivered by a specialist teacher a minimum of once a week, pupils learn how to make healthy choices in relation to food and drinks;  learn how to appreciate food from different countries and cultures; how to shop for the ingredients needed for their recipes and pay for them; and how to maintain good hygiene when it comes to cooking and eating. We also ensure all pupils participate in food events like Chinese New Year Fortune Cookies day,Pancake Day, etc.. so they learn how to participate in group activities, engage positively in interaction with peers and receive peers’ feedback positively. 

Healthy Living 

• How to make healthy choices in relation to food/ drink 

• Distinguishes between edible/ inedible foods. 
• Recognises food and water are essential for life. 
• Understands that some people can eat or avoid certain foods (allergy/ intolerance/ religion). 
•  Recognises all food comes from plants or animals. 
• Identifies healthy/ less healthy foods. 
• Understands some foods have labels which provide information. 
• Is aware that it is important to choose an appropriate portion size for their needs. 
• Is able to make informed choices based on food labels, ingredients, nutritional information. 
• Understands concept of ‘balanced’ diet. 
• Makes healthy choice of food or drink at designated times. 
• Accepts that it is ok to have occasional ‘treats’. 

• How to tolerate an increasing range of foods 

• Accepts small amount of new or different food on plate. 
• Tastes small amount of new or different food. 
• Makes own choice from a range of new or different foods to try. 
• Expresses likes/ dislikes of foods. 

• How to pepars a simple snack 

• Chooses snack to prepare. 
• Makes preparations for making a snack. 
• Makes snack using relevant skills. 
• Tidies away ingredients/ equipment. 

• How to make a drink for self and/ or others 

•  Chooses own drink. 
• Asks others what they would like to drink. 
• (Identifies what they will need. 
• Locates what they will need. 
• Makes a cold drink effectively. 
• Makes a hot drink effectively. 

• How to prepare to make a meal 

• Chooses meal to prepare. 
• Identifies what is required to prepare meal. 
• Locates ingredients/ utensils to prepare meal. 

• How to prepare food 

• Stirs basic ingredients. 
• Whisks basic ingredients. 
• Crushes ingredients such as biscuits for a cheesecake. 
• Mashes ingredients using a masher. 
• Forms dough using hands. 
• Combines/ mixes two ingredients. 
• Opens containers/ packaging with hands. 
• Uses scissors in food preparation. 
• Extracts juice from fruits such as lemons and oranges using a juicer. 
• Uses a sieve correctly. 
• Drains foods using a colander. 
• Uses the rubbing technique when making scones, bread dough. 
• Rolls out dough using a rolling pin. 
• Kneads a yeast based dough. 
• Divides and shapes such as scones, bread dough. 
• Weighs/ measures using measuring spoons and cups. 
• Weighs/ measures using scales and jugs. 
• Grates vegetables and cheese using a grater correctly. 
• Uses a vegetable peeler or adapted peeler correctly. 
• Opens cans using different equipment. 
• Uses a claw grip – knife skills. 
• Uses a bridge hold – knife skills. 
• Combines ingredients using the all in one method, creaming method, with cake mixtures. 
• Combines ingredients using the all in one method, whisking method with batter mixture. 
• Uses different decoration/ finishing techniques such as piping. 
• Can assemble and layer dishes such as pasta salad, lasagne. 

• How to safely use kitchen appliances 

• Uses safely a kettle. 
• Uses safely a microwave. 
• Uses safely a toaster. 
• Uses safely a small electrical equipment. 
• Uses safely a grill. 
• Uses safely an electric oven. 
• Uses safely a gas oven. 
• Uses heat control on the hob to boil/ simmer. 
• Can shallow fry/ saute. 

• How to keep safe when cooking and eating 

• Participates in regular preparatory routines before cooking i.e. washing hands, putting an apron on. 
• Names a range of basic tools safely. 
• Uses a range of basic tools safely. 
• Follows instructions on food labels. 
• Prepares a range of dishes safely and hygienically. 
• Recognises the importance of preparing and cooking food safely and hygienically. 
• Is aware about food poisoning, symptoms and preventative measures. 
• Is aware of contaminated foods. 
• Shows safe handling and cooking of raw meat and fish. 
• Monitors foods during cooking process and makes adjustments as needed. 
• Identifies when food is cooked. 
• Follows a recipe. 
• Knows how to store food appropriately and hygienically. 

• How to participate in mealtime with others 

• Lays table appropriately. 
• Sits at table for duration of meal. 
• Waits turn for food to be served. 
• Uses cutlery appropriately. 
• Differentiates between finger foods/ need for cutlery. 
• Communicates needs at mealtime. 
• Serves others during meal. 
• Engages in communication during meal. 
• Helps to clear table. 
• Excuses self/ asks to leave table. 

• How to order a meal 

• Chooses what they would like to eat. 
• Orders a takeaway meal by phone or online. 
• Orders a meal, snack and/ or drink at the counter. 
• Orders a meal, snack or drink from waiter/ waitress. 
• Pays for meal, snack or drink using appropriate payment. 

Pupils also access the home management room once a week to build on life skills and embed their knowledge of cooking, nutrition and safety and hygiene when preparing, cooking and serving food.  

All students have an extra healthy living lesson per week in addition to their Food Technology and Physical Education lessons.