At Ambler Primary School and Children’s Centre in Islington, food education starts early. From babies in the children’s centre through to pupils in Year 6, children across the setting have regular opportunities to explore food with all their senses. What began with one teacher and a single Year 3 class has grown into a whole-setting approach, helping children develop confidence, curiosity and a positive relationship with food.

How it started

The journey began in February 2022, when Monic Marcou, Year 3 teacher and PSHE and Healthy Eating Lead, attended a TastEd training session commissioned by Islington Council.

Monic remembers the training as “very exciting, interactive and enjoyable” and immediately recognised its potential as a much-needed healthy eating tool for the school.

With support from TastEd, Monic introduced TastEd lessons to her Year 3 class during the summer term. The response from pupils was enthusiastic:

“It helps you to learn what foods you will like in the future. I really enjoyed the lesson because you get to taste different foods that you’ve never tried before.”

“I feel proud of myself and I think my mum will as well. Once she gave me a blueberry, but I didn’t like it so I spat it out. Now I’m eight, I think I like some of the new fruits that I tried.”

“I think we should do this lesson again; I didn’t think I liked any of those fruits. Since I tried them in this lesson, I really like them!”

These early experiences showed the Ambler team what was possible when children were given the time, space and encouragement to explore food without pressure.

From one class to a whole-setting approach

Since those first lessons, TastEd has become a regular part of life at Ambler, with half-termly sessions embedded across the primary school and children’s centre.

The approach stretches from the earliest years through to Year 6, giving children repeated opportunities to build on what they have learned as they progress through the setting.

In 2025, Ambler Primary School and Children’s Centre became one of five TastEd ambassador schools. The Early Years Safeguarding, Health and Wellbeing team from the Department for Education visited and were impressed to see how TastEd progresses throughout children’s time at Ambler.

For the school and children’s centre, this progression is important. Rather than seeing food education as a one-off activity, TastEd has become part of a wider learning journey.

Food education that fits into the curriculum

One of the reasons TastEd has been so successful at Ambler is its flexibility.

Lessons support England’s D&T curriculum for Cooking and Nutrition, while also providing opportunities to explore learning in subjects including RSE & HE, science, history and more.

TastEd focuses on sensory exploration rather than formal cooking, meaning lessons can complement existing teaching without creating additional workload for staff.

Children explore the look, smell, feel or sound of a food before tasting it, building familiarity and developing the language and confidence to describe their experiences and preferences.

The TastEd Golden Rules

No one has to try. No one has to like.

These two simple rules are at the heart of TastEd. By removing pressure to taste or enjoy a food, children can explore using their senses at their own pace. This creates a safe and positive environment where children are free to discover their own preferences.

Impact beyond the classroom

The impact of TastEd has been noticeable across the wider school culture.

Children have become more curious and open-minded about food and increasingly confident in using sensory language to describe what they taste, smell and feel.

In the dining hall, staff have noticed pupils being more willing to try new vegetables and fruits and to talk positively about them. Displays around the school also reinforce the learning, keeping TastEd visible.

There have been some lovely examples of individual behaviour change:

• One nursery child who previously refused to eat a wide range of foods now proudly tells staff when they have tried something new at home.
• Another pupil who was initially hesitant about tasting new foods now enjoys “taste-testing” fruits with friends at lunchtime.
• One parent reported that their child, who previously wouldn’t eat apples, is now asking for them regularly as a snack.
• Following a “purple food” lesson, several pupils were excited to try beetroot at lunchtime showing how a playful sensory experience can influence children’s choices beyond the classroom.

“It feels purposeful” – Ruby Uddin, Nursery Teacher

Advice from the Ambler team

Start small and build gradually. There’s no need to overhaul the curriculum. Even a single, short TastEd lesson can make a meaningful impact. Begin with simple, familiar foods to build confidence among both staff and pupils, then expand the approach over time.

Involve the whole staff team early on. A short introduction or taster session can help teachers understand the approach and feel inspired to get involved. Once staff see how naturally TastEd can fit into subjects such as science and PSHE, and experience how positively pupils respond, it becomes much easier to embed it across the school.

Finally, create a calm and positive environment. The sensory approach works best when children feel safe to explore, share their reactions and express their preferences without any pressure to eat. Creating this sense of safety and curiosity allows pupils to engage with food at their own pace.

As Sandeep McNicholl, Headteacher at Ambler Primary School and Children’s Centre, explains:

“One key learning is how powerful it is to give children time and language to talk about food. Many pupils discover new preferences simply because they’re allowed to explore without judgment. TastEd has also shown us that food education doesn’t have to be about cooking or nutrition facts alone – it can be joyful, creative, and rooted in curiosity.”

A journey that starts early and grows with children

Ambler’s experience shows what can happen when food education is given a consistent place in children’s learning.

For Ambler, TastEd has become more than a series of lessons. It is part of creating a school culture where children are given the time, space and confidence to be curious about food long after the lesson ends.