Most food education focuses on what children should eat. For many children, particularly those with SEND, neurodevelopmental differences, sensory sensitivities or medical needs, the challenge is not understanding healthy eating messages. The challenge is learning how to eat, participate and develop positive experiences around food.
The Eating as Learning Curriculum helps schools create inclusive, supportive and effective food-learning experiences for children who are often excluded from traditional approaches.
Why schools need a different approach
Many children are unable to fully engage in food-related learning because of:
- Sensory sensitivities
- Feeding difficulties
- Neurodevelopmental differences
- Medical conditions
- Anxiety around food
- Limited prior opportunities to explore food safely
Research suggests that feeding difficulties affect a substantial proportion of children and are particularly common amongst children with additional needs.
The Eating as Learning Curriculum is an evidence-informed programme developed by a multidisciplinary team of feeding specialists. Drawing on expertise from speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and nutrition, the curriculum treats food as a developmental learning experience rather than a behaviour to be corrected.
Children are supported to:
- Explore food through sensory experiences
- Build confidence and curiosity
- Develop participation and independence
- Learn at their own pace
- Experience success without pressure
Eating is never forced. Regulation, safety and learning come first.
The Eating as Learning Curriculum:
Designed for SEND and inclusive practice – Developed specifically with children who experience sensory differences, feeding challenges and neurodivergent profiles in mind.
Supports wellbeing and regulation – Creates safe opportunities for engagement while reducing pressure and anxiety around food.
Builds life skills – Supports feeding, self-feeding, independence, communication and participation.
Creates positive food cultures – Helps schools develop supportive routines and more inclusive approaches to food-related activities.
Engages families – Provides information and resources that help strengthen home-school partnerships.
Supports statutory frameworks – Complements Healthy Schools, Food for Life and SEND Code of Practice priorities.
Become an Eating as Learning Certified Setting
A Complete Curriculum Package – A full year of weekly session plans, activities, resources and symbol supports, differentiated to meet diverse learning and sensory profiles.
Specialist Staff Training – Half-day training delivered by an MDT of feeding specialists from nutrition & dietetics, occupational therapy and speech & language therapy.
Video Learning Library – Easy-access, online learning modules and practical examples demonstrating activities and implementation in real-world settings.
Sustainability Resources – Templates and planning tools enabling future delivery within school without ongoing dependence on external services.
Outcome Measures – Tools to support baseline assessment, participation monitoring and progress tracking.
Ongoing Mentoring – Termly support and guidance for staff delivering the programme.
Three different options available:
- Early Years Curriculum – suitable for mainstream and specialist provision
- Primary Curriculum – suitable for special schools, resources bases and SEND learners within mainstream settings
- Older Learners Curriculum – suitable for specialist secondary and FE provision
What schools say
“The EaL Curriculum has been a blessing. It has enabled us to enhance our educational resources and implement specialised programmes tailored to the unique needs of our children with additional needs. This curriculum has not only improved our understanding of children’s feeding and eating, but also empowered our staff with the tools and skills necessary to create an engaging and healthy environment around making food fun for children with developmental feeding differences.”
Becky McClean
SENCO, Special Steps SEND Provision
National Pearson Teaching Gold Award for SEN Educator of the Year 2024