With the school year coming to an end, primary school leaders around the UK have something extra to worry about: the end of a significant piece of funding. The Primary PE and Sport Premium was a source of ring-fenced funding designed to be used not just on sports in schools but on improving ‘children’s health, wellbeing, personal development and academic attainment’. For many schools, this money was the main way to fund important and exciting activities beyond the core curriculum – including nutrition and food activities – during PPA time.

What is PPA time? It’s the Planning, Preparation and Assessment time that all state school teachers are entitled to as part of their working week. Every school leader knows that it’s essential for teachers to have that block of weekly protected time away from teaching duties. Used creatively, PPA time can be a golden opportunity for children to expand their learning and skills while their teacher is away from the classroom. But in these times of very squeezed school budgets, it can be challenging finding ways to deliver meaningful activities during PPA time.

TastEd offers a simple, supportive and zero-cost solution.

TastEd, short for Taste Education, is a free, evidence-based food education programme that can be delivered by the staff you already have in school. It is especially helpful for schools looking to continue practical and purposeful learning opportunities, without additional budget pressures. Many schools already use TastEd during PPA time, with LSAs or support staff leading engaging lessons that build children’s confidence, curiosity and healthy habits.

What is sensory food education?

Sensory food education is a hands-on approach that helps children explore food through all five senses: touch, sight, smell, sound and taste.

Through positive, playful experiences with food, children can build confidence, curiosity and language skills, while developing a healthier relationship with what they eat.

As children become more familiar with vegetables and fruit, they discover new preferences. Through exploration and fun, children learn to love fresh vegetables and fruits, along with the confidence and curiosity to try new foods in the future!

Why TastEd works as a PPA alternative 

• Free to use: no subscription, licence or external provider fees.
• Easy for support staff to deliver: clear lesson plans, simple equipment and no specialist training needed.
• Linked to the curriculum: supporting D&T, PSHE/RSHE, science, language development and wellbeing.
• Practical and joyful: children explore fruit and vegetables through the senses, building confidence and positive food experiences.
• Proven impact: schools report improved engagement, calmer classrooms and greater willingness from children to try new foods.

A timely opportunity

As schools plan for the period between the end of the current Premium and the launch of the new national PE and School Sport Partnership Network in January 2027, TastEd offers a simple, affordable way to keep high-quality education going. It needs very little preparation, uses simple resources, and the only cost is the small tastes of vegetables and fruit offered during each lesson.

For schools wanting to protect PPA time, maintain breadth of curriculum and support children’s wellbeing, TastEd is a ready-made, sustainable option.

You can sign up to access TastEd’s resource hub, with training videos, activity plans, lesson plans, PowerPoints for free: https://moodle.tasteeducation.com/login/signup.php