Guide for Schools

A huge thank you to all our partner schools across Yorkshire, Humber and the North East that have participated in our evaluation of the Free School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme.

Between September 2026 and February 2027, we will be returning to participating schools to carry out a follow-up phase of the research with children who are now in Year 3. Below is an overview of what to expect.

To begin, we will ask for your support in sharing informative emails and survey links with parents/carers of the relevant cohort. This will enable families to learn more about the study and decide whether they would like their child to take part.

• All parents/carers of children who were in the eligible Year 2 class during the previous academic year will be invited to participate.
• Families will be provided with information about the study and given the opportunity to opt out if they do not wish their child to take part.

A member/s of our research team will visit your school for one full day, from breakfast provision through to after-school club, to observe food intake among participating Year 3 pupils who were part of the eligible Year 2 class last year.

• Typically, one to three researchers will be on site to ensure data collection is completed efficiently and with minimal disruption to the school day.
• During the visit, we will also review the school food environment and ask a small number of questions to a member of staff to capture any changes since our previous visit.

Schools that previously supported our focus group activities may also be invited to take part in this follow-up element of the study.

• Parents/carers whose children participated in the eligible Year 2 class last year will be asked if their children can participate again.
• The focus groups will help us better understand the experiences and perspectives of children now that the Free School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme is no longer being provided.

Your support is invaluable to this important national study.

As a token of our appreciation:

• Participating schools will receive a total thank you payment of £250 across the two-year study period, along with a partnership certificate.
• Schools that participated in the focus groups during the previous phase of the study will have received an additional £150.
• Parents and carers who take part in the follow-up research may receive up to £20 in vouchers.

We greatly value your partnership in this research. The findings from this study will be shared with the Department of Health and Social Care and will contribute to evidence that helps inform the future of the Free School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme.