The City of Lyon is enhancing school mealtime experiences with the introduction of “The School Catering Handbook”. This comprehensive guide aims to support young people during lunchtime and in their exploration of food, while also recognizing the important contributions of school cafeteria professionals.
The Motivation Behind the Handbook
Lunchtime is a pivotal moment in a child’s day, offering opportunities for social interaction, autonomy, and the development of a taste for new flavours. The creation of the handbook was driven by a desire to establish a set of core values and professional practices that would benefit the youth of Lyon. It serves as a tool to highlight the educational significance of the lunch break, emphasizing values such as autonomy, socialization, and food exploration. The handbook also aims to make the efforts of lunchtime staff visible to families, showcasing their role in supporting children’s development.
The handbook is designed to help staff uphold the values and practices necessary to guide young Lyonnais during this time. By promoting health and environmental awareness, the handbook provides guidance on how to create a positive mealtime experience for all students.
The development of the handbook was a collaborative effort involving numerous professionals from various roles and districts across Lyon. Between January and April 2023, workshops were held to foster reflection and dialogue, bringing together nearly 80 individuals. This co-construction process led to the shared definition of priority goals for ensuring high-quality mealtime care. Implementing the handbook’s principles on the ground remains a long-term endeavour, requiring ongoing commitment and adaptation.
Feedback from Schools
Schools have responded positively to the handbook. To date, 75% of schools in the area have initiated training sessions and activities to implement the handbook guidelines.
The handbook helps staff understand the attitudes and skills required to provide high-quality care for children during mealtimes. It reassures them about the practices to adopt, for example, taking time to sit and talk with children at the table, or fostering their independence by allowing them to do things on their own as early as possible. The handbook recognizes the crucial role of lunchtime teams, in all their diversity, in supporting children’s discovery of food. Schools are encouraged to adopt the handbook’s goals gradually, by identifying existing good practices and determining the levers for further progress.
The Future of School Catering in Lyon
Looking ahead, the handbook reinforces Lyon’s commitment to providing school meals that are high-quality, sustainable, healthy, and locally sourced. It represents a significant step in the city’s ongoing transition towards better school catering practices, ensuring that mealtime remains a valuable and enriching part of the school day.