Evaluation of the Free School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme.

Start date: 15 September 2025
End date: 14 December 2027
Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Value: £650,000
Partners and collaborators: Northumbria University, UK
Primary investigator: Professor Janet Cade
Co-investigators: Dr Darren Greenwood, Dr Adam Martin, School of Medicine, University of Leeds
External co-investigators: Professor Margaret Defeyter, Northumbria University, UK

The University of Leeds, together with Northumbria University is undertaking an evaluation of the government-funded School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) which provides a free daily fruit or vegetable item to children in Reception and Key Stage 1 in state funded schools in England.

Low intake of fruits and vegetables among children in the UK is a key public health concern. Only 18% of children meet the recommended five-a-day intake, and children from lower socio-economic backgrounds are most at risk.

The evaluation will:

1. Characterise fruit and vegetable intakes in Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 children, differentiating between intakes from the SFVS and other sources.
2. Explore changes in fruit and vegetable intakes when children in Year 2 move into Year 3 and are no longer eligible for the scheme.
3. Compare fruit and vegetable intakes on school and non-school days.
4. Identify differences in intakes by age, gender, socio-economic status.
5. Describe school systems and processes related to the SFVS, to highlight best practices and areas for improvement.
6. Understand barriers and facilitators faced by parents in relation to providing fruit and vegetables, as well their views on the SFVS.
7. Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the SFVS.

The evaluation, which is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, will assess the impact of the scheme on children’s nutritional intake. We will identify best practices and areas for improvement in the implementation of the SFVS.

Impact

The results of the evaluation will be shared with policymakers, schools, and parents to inform future public health strategies and policies.