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Welcome Welcome to our first Farm Links newsletter! The aim of this resource is to inspire teachers and farmers alike by sharing the great work that is happening in Food for Life Partnership schools and their link farms across the country. It includes farm education case studies, ideas and links for classroom-based activities, farming information and an update on training days for teachers. The exciting news is that Food For Life Partnership schools will be receiving a copy of the Soil Association’s membership magazine, Living Earth, later this year. So after this newsletter, there will be an insert in Living Earth to provide you with ideas and updates around farm links and food education, plus news from our Food Sourcing team and the wider partnership. Please send your feedback to Lisa, Farm Links Project Officer, at lnunn@soilassociation.org Faye Walters, FFLP Farm Links Manager, Soil Association |
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* Hugh Fernley-Willingstall's Chicken Out Campaign * Disraeli Primary School - Let Chickens teach! * Farmer Profile * Resources: - Guides - Classroom resources * Support for farmers: - Get on my Land: Activities - Farmer training - Open Farm Sunday * Know your chickens * Know your eggs * Useful links & clips * Open Farm Sunday * Contacts
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A word from Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall on his ‘Chicken out’ campaign "I'm delighted that the Food for Life Partnership is taking my Chicken Out! campaign for higher welfare chicken into the world of school meals with such success, proving that young people really do care about where their food comes from. What makes this project so inspiring is the way that young people in more than a thousand schools are now learning about real food in a hands-on way, growing and cooking it themselves and even rearing their own chickens! I would urge the Government to do more to encourage all schools to follow their lead." To find out more about the campaign visit the Chicken Out! website |
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Disraeli Primary School: Let chickens teach! Disraeli School, a State Primary Flagship school in South East England, has been part of the Food for Life Partnership since April 2009. Below is an extract from a recent case study, demonstrating how chickens can become part of a school’s education programme. How did you decide you wanted chickens? We wanted to give the children the opportunity to see some live animals in school having identified it in our Gardening Action Group (as part of FFLP) action plan from consultation with parents, staff and children. We wanted them to learn how to care for an animal and to learn where their food comes from. We got our chickens from Omlet UK in October 2009. What is involved in looking after the chickens? They live in an “eglu” – bought by The School Parents Association – within a grassy courtyard where they are free to peck and roam around outside. Our Extended Schools Manager oversees the care of the chickens but many members of our school community regularly help too. Are the eggs used? Year 3 have used eggs in their cooking in Numeracy lessons (weighing ingredients to make cakes). Cookery Club regularly use our chickens’ eggs when required in their recipes. Breakfast Club and After School Club also use them. In this term’s Disraeli Food for Life Partnership newsletter we have run a chicken crossword competition where a box of eggs from Sam and Ella are the prize! Are they used as a teaching resource? The chickens are well used as a teaching resource. Foundation Stage 2 often go out to see the chickens as they learn about the world around them, living and growing and care and respect. What impact have the chickens had on your school? The chickens have been invaluable in many different areas of children’s learning but very noticeably in working with children on their own personal emotional and social development. For example, one two-year old that regularly attends the children’s centre has delayed speech. He does not speak at all to adults or children other than in his own home. However, he has been visiting the chickens regularly during sessions and will now chatter away to the chickens confidently! Although the chickens have only been with us for a few months, we have begun to see a real impact on children’s learning, behaviour and emotional well-being. They are an exciting tool for teachers to use in making their lessons real for the children and in bringing the school community together.
"I learnt that when the chicken’s comb is red it means it is healthy and when it is orange it means the chicken is sick” For more information on case studies click here |
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Mark Lea, Greenacres Farm Greenacres is a 480-acre organic mixed farm in Shropshire. Mark Lea and his family is the third generation at Greenacres. He is an experienced arable, veg and beef farmer and he extends his farming practice by hosting school visits each year for all age groups – including St Andrew’s Primary School. The Farm Visit Head teacher at St Andrew’s, Adrian Marsh, says: Farmer, Mark Lea says: Learning outcomes Techniques A range of numeracy and science objectives are met through the monitoring of the weight and growth of the chicks as they turn into hens; children write-up instructions as to how they carry out composting duties and maps of the farm are used for examination of how co-ordinates can be used. Impact Aside from the obvious educational benefits of farm visits, children also learn about the world around them. Mark adds “Close contact with animals destined for meat production gives pupils the extremely important opportunity to understand the moral obligation we have to prioritise animal welfare. Young children are perfectly capable of appreciating the importance of respecting the life of animals whilst also enjoying the end product as part of a healthy diet.” |
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Guides: Tips for organising a farm visit Ideas for activities on a farm visit Suggested questions to ask a farmer Where to find advice on keeping chickens in school Classroom resources: Food for Life curriculum pack (KS1 / KS2) - inc. animal welfare activity RSPCA on chickens: A little eggs-stra speact (KS1 activity) RSPCA on chickens: Eggs 'r' us (KS2 activity) Compassion in World Farming animal welfare resources - all key stages World Animal Day (teacher pack) Soil Association's education activities - animals Earn credits through recycling with Reciproc8 for transport to farms |
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Get on my Land: Activities Get to know the farm Field to fork What is the soil? Animal welfare Biodiversity Practical tasks Sensory activities Steering cards Alternatively, download the whole Get on my Land activity pack
Farmer training Undergo FREE CEVAS training over 2 days to gain a recognised qualification in educating schools about your farm. Natural England grants for Education Visits training Natural England now pays Higher Level Stewardship Agreement Holders to become CEVAS (Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme) accredited for hosting educational visits, by using the management plan option (Payment for Advice and Help - PAH) worth £400. The CEVAS course is in two parts. Part one is a two-day training course for staff who will be leading visits. This covers preparation for visits, including risk assessments and Health and Safety, linking to the curriculum and guidance on how to lead activities. Part two is an endorsement of your farm premises for suitability for school visits. The DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) launched the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge scheme earlier this year to provide schools with official endorsement of sites opening their doors to school children. By completing CEVAS parts one and two, you will be awarded the quality badge for your farm, providing assurance to schools of the quality of your visits and an extra promotional opportunity. For further information about CEVAS and the LOtC Quality Badge, please visit www.face-online.org.uk. The grant applies to full accreditation only, i.e. the person (part one) and the farm (part two). Agreement Holders would need to get approval from their local Natural England Adviser to include this option in their agreement before doing the course and then provide evidence that they have become accredited in order to claim the payment. If you find you are not eligible for full entry into the Higher Level Stewardship Scheme, please contact your local NE Advisor to discuss the possibility of applying for educational access as a stand-alone option for funding for school visits.
Open Farm Sunday - Care about your food - we do! This year's Open Farm Sunday takes place on the 13th June, and the Soil Association-led Food for Life Partnership is delighted to be sponsoring the day. Last year, 425 farms all over the country welcomed 140,000 visitors onto their farms to find out what farming is all about and enjoy a fun day in the countryside learning about where their food comes from. If you would like to open your gates and join in this year's event on Sunday 13th June, visit the Open Farm Sunday website for more information. The website has lots of useful ideas, guidance and top tips to help you organise a memorable and fun day for all. If you haven't done so already, |
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Can you distinguish an organic from a free range chicken?
Organic chickens - Are free from synthetic yolk colourants and synthetic amino acids Free Range chickens - Can be several thousand chickens in a flock For further information on the welfare standards for Organic and Free Range chickens visit the FFLP website here |
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What do the stamps on your eggs mean? Do you find the labels misleading? Is it worth paying more for eggs laid by hens which have had a better quality of life? To answer these questions you may find the below information useful Egg type: Caged Laid by: Battery hens Description: Hens occupy a space equivalent to an A4 sheet of paper. Average price: £1.39
Egg code: 2 Egg type: Barn Laid by: Perchery hens Description: Hens are crowded indoors Average price: £1.55
Egg code: 1 Egg type: Free Range Laid by: hens with outdoor access Description: Hens are given more space than codes 2 & 3 (above) and have outdoor access through holes in hut. Average price: £1.58
Organic eggs Laid by: Organic hens which have been fed on an organic diet with lots of space and free-roaming outdoor access (see above section on Organic Chickens) Description: Hens are free to perch, nest and forage outside. Average price: £2.05 What does the label mean? O = Organic, UK = Origin, BB = Best before date, 134 = Farm I.D
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Further advice and information on the welfare of chickens Federation of Community Farms and City Gardens Incredible Edible Todmorden: Egg campaign DEFRA 'Laying hens: code of recommentations for the welfare of livestock'
Short clips |
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For further information about the Farm Links strand of the Food For Life Partnership visit the FFLP Farm Links page
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