Culinary academy launches national Adopt a School Day

In an effort to increase practical cookery skills among children the Academy of Culinary Arts is launching its first national Adopt a School Day this September.

Organised by the Adopt a School Trust (AAST), a charity run by the academy, more than 90 chefs have agreed to go in to schools on 25 September to run tasting and practical cookery sessions.

The occasion will celebrate 10 years since the launch of the AAST, as well as being a focal point for persuading politicians to address the exclusion of practical cookery classes from the National Curriculum.

"Despite a number of initiatives to provide schools with informative teaching resources, AAS is the only practical programme," said AAST manager Elly Mercer. "The involvement of a professional chef is our secret ingredient and creates real enthusiasm in the children."

Ruth Armfield-Shepherd, a teacher at Arbour Vale school in Slough, Berkshire, which teaches special-needs children aged from three to 19, agreed that the chefs were a vital component. Brian Turner, chairman of the academy, has visited the school, along with Geoff Du-Feu , who runs the scheme; and Yolande Stanley, pastry lecturer at Thames Valley University, is the school's link chef. "They have totally captured the children's attention, which is something very hard to do with special-needs children who often have a short attention span," said Mercer.

Robert Kirby, group executive chef at Avenance, has adopted Rayleigh Primary School in Rayleigh, Essex. "The scheme is a fantastic way of introducing fresh ingredients and different taste sensations to children at an early age," he said. "The enthusiasm the children have of touching, smelling and tasting new foods is wonderful to see."

The Adopt a School programme runs sessions for primary school children aged seven to 11 and special-needs schools. A more structured programme to complement key stages in the curriculum at secondary schools is currently being devised.

For further information on the AAST, call Elly Mercer on 020 8673 6543 or visit www.academyofculinaryarts.org.uk.