Food Routes

At Overdale Junior School, we believe that learning to cook and eating healthily is a vital skill for all children as part of their primary education.

All children take part in Food Routes as part of the school curriculum. Year groups take part in cooking lessons on a rolling programme through the year. Children learn how to cook hygienically, to develop their existing skills and understand where food comes from.

They learn how to make healthy eating choices independently and have a positive relationship with food. We encourage pupils become more confident trying new foods in a social environment. Children learn to use a wide variety of cooking equipment, using heat, as well as learning new vocabulary.  It is our intention to inspire children to learn to cook and for this to be fully inclusive for all.

The knowledge organisers below show the core knowledge that children will be taught and expected to learn in each year group.

Year 3 Knowledge Organiser

Year 4 Knowledge Organiser

Year 5 Knowledge Organiser

Year 6 Knowledge Organiser

Whole School Long Term Plan

We are incredibly proud to be able to offer ‘Food Routes’ to all children at Overdale Junior School each year.

Food Routes (otherwise known as cooking lessons) are sessions which are fully integrated into the curriculum, all children taking part in a block of cookery lessons each year.

‘Food Routes’ has been fully embedded within our curriculum and we are able to offer the children these sessions in a fully fitted and dedicated classroom kitchen – a space which we refer to as ‘The Healthy Hut’, Weekly, sessions take place for our children during PPA blocks.

Throughout the year, the children learn about the importance of healthy eating and learn a range of important life skills such as cooking and food preparation. We are proud that these skills have been sequenced progressively throughout their time at Overdale Junior School, from basic skills in Year 3 to making a main meal in stages in Year 6.

Our children love their time in ‘Food Routes’, so much so that finding out about where food comes from and cooking is integrated into our everyday school life.

Please see our cooking gallery to see some of the wonderful things we have made.