Use of the School Setting During the Summer Holidays: Mixed-Methods Evaluation of Food and Fun Clubs in Wales

Overview

Journal J Sch Health

Publisher Wiley

Specialties Health Services
Medical Education
Nursing

Date 2019 Jul 30

PMID 31353475

Citations 7

Authors

Kelly Morgan

Linda McConnon

Jordan Van Godwin

Jemma Hawkins

Amy Bond

Adam Fletcher

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: School summer holiday clubs in deprived areas of Wales were evaluated to examine opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity and explore delivery processes.

Methods: Ten Food and Fun clubs participated in 2016. Quantitative data (child and parent surveys; N = 196, N = 84) assessed the opportunity to provide children with breakfast and lunch. A sub-sample of children wore an accelerometer (N = 41) to evaluate the opportunity for achieving 1-hour of moderate to vigorous activity (MVPA) at club. Features of successful club delivery were identified through; focus groups (child and parent; N = 74, N = 69) and interviews (staff/volunteer; N = 32).

Results: Opportunities for healthy eating were delivered with high fidelity: 86% of children reported breakfast consumption and 75% eating a healthy lunch. On club days, children reported consuming fewer sugary snacks (66%), fewer sugary drinks (81%), and more fruits and vegetables (67%). About 71% of children achieved the recommended MVPA at club, with children engaging in more MVPA (+17 minutes/day, p < .01) on average compared to non-club days. Successful delivery processes were: use of school facilities and staff; flexible partnership-working; and whole family involvement.

Conclusions: Schools appear to provide a suitable setting for the delivery of healthy eating and physical activity opportunities during school summer holidays.

Citing Articles

Health effects of children's summer holiday programs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Eglitis E, Singh B, Olds T, Virgara R, Machell A, Richardson M Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2024; 21(1):119.

PMID: 39425115 PMC: 11488216. DOI: 10.1186/s12966-024-01658-8.

The Nutritional Quality of Food Provision at UK Government-Funded Holiday Clubs: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Energy and Nutrient Content.

Vitale M, Crossland S, Shinwell J, Stretesky P, Defeyter M, Brownlee I Nutrients. 2023; 15(8).

PMID: 37111156 PMC: 10144653. DOI: 10.3390/nu15081937.

Understanding the implementation of the holiday activities and food programme in the North East of England using normalization process theory.

Defeyter M, Finch T, Crilley E, Shinwell J, Mann E Front Public Health. 2022; 10:954679.

PMID: 36172216 PMC: 9510688. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.954679.

An Exploration of Nutritional Education within the Holiday Activities and Food Programme in England.

Round E, Shinwell J, Stretesky P, Defeyter M Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022; 19(4).

PMID: 35206586 PMC: 8872040. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042398.

Staff perspectives on the feeding practices used in holiday clubs to promote healthy eating in disadvantaged communities.

Bayes N, Mason C, Holley C Health Soc Care Community. 2022; 30(5):e3116-e3127.

PMID: 35174926 PMC: 9544693. DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13757.

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