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The FEAST Project

The FEAST: Food and Eating Environments in Alternative Education and Special Schools STudy.

The FEAST Study is made up of a team of researchers working together to explore children's diets and access to safe and healthy food in special schools, as well as alternative provision settings. The research is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Aims of the project

A girl with Down Syndrome wearing blue, holding a big bowl of salad.

  • Our aim was to assess the nutritional quality of meals served in special schools and alternative provision.
  • We also sought to understand the views of children, parents, schools, and caterers on school food and support for eating (including healthy eating).
  • We used the findings to understand what improvements could be made in special schools / alternative provision to help children have access to a safe and healthy diet. The study gave children, parents, and school staff and governors the chance to input into these improvements.

Why is this research needed?

A group of children studying in a college cafeteria.

  • We all want children to eat safely and well, including when they are at school – it’s essential to their concentration, ability to learn and well-being.
  • All schools in England that are funded by the government (including special schools and alternative provision (AP)) are required by law to provide school meals that meet SFS
  • Pupils who attend special schools/AP often have poorer diets and are at a higher risk of future health problems that are linked to diet
  • These settings may experience additional or different challenges to mainstream schools to support healthy meal choices
  • Evaluation of the food quality provided in these settings is essential to understand how to improve food provision in the future.

What is involved?

A teacher (left) doing sign language with a deaf girl (right) in a playground.

We worked with 6–8 special schools and alternative provision settings in the West Midlands and Northeast of England. As part of the study, we collected school menus and visited settings to observe the food on offer, assessing it against the School Food Standards. We also looked at the nutritional quality of the meals using tailored scoring systems.

In each setting, we carried out in-depth interviews with key staff and governors to learn about the challenges of supporting healthy and safe eating in schools. Parents and pupils also shared their experiences of school food, and we used creative approaches to make sure a wide range of children could take part.

We reviewed and reflected on whether our methods were inclusive and suitable for all schools and pupils. To thank schools for their involvement, each participating school received £300.

Meet the team

University of Birmingham research team

Northumbria University research team

University of Edinburgh research team

Academic publications

Sharing our findings

We have created a research and policy briefing:

This work has helped to highlight opportunities to better support healthy and safe eating in special schools and alternative provision, with the ultimate aim of reducing the increased risk of poor diet and associated health issues faced by pupils in these settings.

We are currently creating an easy-read summary and infographic for schools, parents and pupils - coming in October 2025. These have been developed with input from Public Advisory Groups to ensure they are accessible to those with SEN and/or communication needs.

We have also presented our findings to a variety of audiences, including:

  • A webinar for schools, parents and pupils - 17 June 2025
  • An evidence panel at the School Food All Party Parliamentary Group - 9 September 2025

We will also be presenting a 'Twilight Talk' through Nasen to share our findings with teachers and SENCOs - coming in Spring 2026.

Where can I find out more about the FEAST Project?

You can find out more about the FEAST in our study protocol and other various study information sheets (linked below). There is more information there about what happens to the data we collect, how we store and protect it.

Public representatives

Our Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) group aim is to ensure that the study is meaningful and relevant for those that are impacted by food in special schools. Public representatives will also be embedded within the SMT and SAC. We have two public advisory groups guiding our research:

  • Schools and Practice
  • Parents and Pupils (represent the parents and school pupils we will recruit onto the study)

These groups will have 3 meetings over an online platform between July 2024 and January 2025.

Our public representatives are reimbursed for their time at a rate of £25 per meeting.

If you are interested in being involved as a public representative, please get in touch at feast@contacts.bham.ac.uk.

Collaborators

  • Study Management Team (SMT) is a group of all co-applicants, meeting monthly and providing expert advice.
  • Study Advisory Committee (SAC). The members of this committee are ranging in expertise, including this project’s PI, independent academics (with relevant research interests), Local Authority representatives and Public/Practice members. The SAC will meet bi-monthly to provide oversight on the study delivery and ensure progress through key milestones.

Related studies

Contact us

Telephone: +44 (0) 121 415 8018 or +44 (0) 1214158018

Email: feast@contacts.bham.ac.uk

  • Funding

    The FEAST Project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research.