The Cool Canteen Accreditation Program (Cool CAP)
What is Cool CAP?
The Cool Canteen Accreditation Program (Cool CAP) is a school
canteen program
run by the Tasmanian School Canteen Association. The program
offers a model of
best practice for canteen management.
To achieve accreditation schools need to meet standards in
five areas:
- Canteen guidelines and procedures
- Food safety and the canteen
- Food sold in the canteen
- Linking the canteen and the classroom
- Marketing the canteen
The program awards schools by using three levels: BRONZE,
SILVER and GOLD. Each level builds on the previous
one. Once awarded the school continues
to
maintain or increase the level of accreditation
achieved.
What are the aims of Cool CAP?
- • To promote the preparation of food in a safe and hygienic
environment.
• To increase the availability and promotion of healthy
foods in Tasmanian
School Canteens and the
wider school community.
• To support and complement classroom learning as part
of a health promoting
school.
• To run a well managed business under the direction of
a represented canteen
committee and comprehensive policy
(guidelines and procedures)
Why have a Cool CAP Program?
The formation of healthy eating behaviours
is part of each child's education.
Although
eating behaviours will go through
a number of stages during childhood,
habits
established early in life are said to be
long lasting. Children need guidance to
help
them select a healthy diet and have healthy
attitudes toward food.
The Cool CAP program enables healthy choices
to become easy choices for both
students and staff. It provides additional
benefits that may not occur if the school
focuses on the canteen menu alone. These
include:
- Maintaining high standards of hygiene.
- Reinforcing the Tasmanian curriculum in practical terms.
- Marketing and promoting healthy food choices to the wider
school community
- Fostering an ongoing commitment from the school through
the development of canteen policy
(guidelines and procedures)
and the maintenance
of
canteen accreditation.
The Cool CAP program provides reassurance
to the wider school community
that the
canteen aims to provide a high quality
and safe food service for students and
staff.
What is the process to achieve Cool CAP accreditation?
- Gain support from the school community for the Cool
CAP program (including
parents, teachers, students and canteen staff).
- Form a Canteen Committee which may include representatives
from teaching
and canteen staff, parents and student council.
- Register your school’s interest in Cool CAP by
contacting the Cool CAP office
either by phone or email (contact details below).
- Commence working on the Cool CAP program with support
from the Project
Officer and Project Dietitian through school visits,
email and telephone
contact.
- Work with your local Council Environmental Health Officer
(EHO) to meet the
requirements of National and State Food Safety
Standards. School canteens are now classified as food premises
and as such need to be registered with
local councils. Canteen staff need to be trained in food
safety and hygiene
and canteen premises must meet the Food Safety Standards.
Once the Cool CAP application has been signed off on by
the Project Officer your
application will be assessed. Schools are required
to maintain the standards of the
Cool CAP program once accredited and are encouraged
to apply for higher levels of
accreditation.
Who is eligible to participate in Cool CAP?
All Tasmanian primary, district, secondary and college
canteens (government, nongovernment,
independent and catholic education systems).
How will the school be recognised for their effort?
- Public recognition of the canteen, the canteen committee
and the schools
achievement. E.g. media coverage.
- The presentation of a framed certificate at a whole school
assembly.
- A Canteen menu board.
- Ongoing support from the Cool CAP Project Officer and
Project Dietitian as
required.
For More Information contact
Robyn Davies
TSCA Project Manager
Tele: 03 6223 8023
rdavies@tascanteenassn.org.au
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