Adapt-Ed: Improving food in special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) schools

Adapt-Ed is a research project that was led by the University of Hertfordshire and University of Essex, in collaboration with the charity School Food Matters, that worked with children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and other stakeholders (parents/carers, people working in schools and people working in policy) to explore how we can improve food in special schools. The scoping phase of the project, funded by the National Institute of Health and Care Research from June 2024-January 2025, co-designed adaptations to the School Food Matters ‘Healthy Zones’ programme (now called Nourish) which generally supports mainstream schools in creating a healthier food environment. The project involved consultation with stakeholders to explore what ‘good food’ looks like for special schools and what the challenges and opportunities are for making it more accessible for children with SEND.  

There is currently very little evidence about approaches to providing food in special schools, school meals for children with SEND, or the impact nutritious school food has on children with SEND and their families. In this presentation we outline:  

• The importance of the project and the methodology. 

• Key findings about special school contexts and the uptake of school meals; and what children, families and school staff say can make a difference.  

• Recommendations, links to further information and resources, and how you can get in touch.