Schools in four areas of Wales say plans for the introduction of the two year Appetite for Life Action Research Project are in place. Four local authorities, Wrexham, Ceredigion, Merthyr Tydfil and Torfaen have been chosen to take part in the study which will be overseen by the Centre for Action Research in Professional Practice at the University of Bath.

The project will see the councils developing and testing the guidelines for implementing the new food and nutritional standards outlined by the Welsh Assembly Government. Lessons from the project will then be used in the wider application of the standards in all maintained schools in Wales.

Those councils that have not been selected for the project will be still able to apply for grants to support progress towards the new standards. A total of more than 6.5 million pounds has been made available over the two years of the study.

The Welsh Assembly Government Education Minister, Jane Hutt, said, “We want to see healthier options becoming an appealing and regular choice for children and young people across Wales. The Action Research Project which gets underway in September will enable us to test these new standards and share best practice to
give children the very best start in life.”