After receiving an enthusiastic response to our new Food Curriculum Roadmaps from teacher Jo Worthington, we decided to ask Jo to tell us a bit more about why she likes the Roadmaps and how she is using them in school. Here's what she said!

What were your first thoughts when you discovered the Roadmaps?

Using my time wisely looking for new resources, I came across the new Food - a fact of life Roadmaps. Wow! My mind was blown. After 25 years of teaching, finally a resource I could use to show everyone visiting our food room what it is we actually do – which is far more than making buns and teaching children how to cook!

My initial thoughts about the Roadmaps were how easy they are to follow and use, and how clear they make it about what we as food specialists are actually trying to teach throughout school, at all ages and stages. They are so helpful when reviewing and planning the curriculum, and I can see them forming a great starting point for any school/education establishment new to delivering food, or re-looking at their current provision.

How have you used them so far?

I have used them personally to ensure that my curriculum plans cover the National Curriculum expectations. I’ve shown them to parents and carers and colleagues at departmental CPD sessions. I also used them at our recent school Open Day, to showcase the breadth of what is taught in food and nutrition education.

How can you see them being used in the future?

I will use them in the future with my trainee teachers, and any non-specialist staff, to give them the opportunity to familiarise themselves with our subject’s purpose and content.

How do the Roadmaps support your pupils’ learning?

My pupils love looking at them and seeing ‘where we are now’ in our food learning journey at Carr Manor Community School. I have made sure that the appropriate Roadmap has been turned into a sticker and put into pupil classwork books, so they have no excuse for not knowing where we are in our curriculum and where we are going next! I use them in my PowerPoint presentations as a reminder or as an introduction to the next stage of our journey, particularly at KS4 (ages 14-16 years).

What three reasons would you give other teachers for using the Roadmaps?

1. They can help you plan and prepare your own individual curriculum, so you can develop your own team/department/subject, in your own setting.

2. The Roadmaps enable parents/carers to see the learning journey for their child, so they fully get on board and support you and what you are doing.

3. They are great for showing visitors, including Ofsted, the purpose and reasoning behind why food and nutrition is such an important subject in all schools.

Any final thoughts?

The only advice I can give is, use them! They are a fab teaching tool and resource.