Children's work bears fruit

WHEN the clock reads 10.40am, about 50 pupils swarm from the classrooms to the tuck shop at Castle Hill Junior School.

But the fare on offer is not sugary snacks or fizzy drinks - but apples, bananas, oranges, pears and tangerines.

In a bid to have healthy snacks, the Dryden Road, Ipswich, school sells fruit at its mid-morning break.

Year Six pupils Victoria Hilton, 10, Zoe Farmer, 11, Lauren Read, 10, Daniel Flory, 10, and Ellie Read, 10 first started the fruit tuck shop.

Victoria said: "It is very popular. There is always a pretty long queue.

"The first time we did it, there was a massive queue - we thought it would never end."

The fruit tuck shop started off at the beginning of the school year.

Zoe said: "It was in PHSE (personal, health and social education). We were all in a group and we had to think about healthy eating.

"We went to the headteacher and asked if we could start a fruit tuck shop."

The children feel the new shop has helped out parents as well as being enjoyed by their pals.

Lauren said: "Most people were bringing in chocolate bars"

Daniel added: "A lot of parents don't have time to do a snack - and now parents won't have to do it."

The three Year Six classes have a go at running the tuck shop for one term each - and this year's Year Five is due to take over next year.

Deputy head Greg Hayes said: "It is part of our healthy schools initiative. We don't make any profit. It is just to get them to eat healthily.

"It is very, very popular. I think it has really influenced what they have in their packed lunches and even children who don't go to the tuck shop think about what they eat.

"You find they have grapes and bananas whereas before they would have had chocolate.

"It is also a nice link to the community and we are very lucky to have a greengrocer on the estate.

The fruit is provided by Jon Davey of P A Collings, Garrick Way.