CELEBRATING food was a big part of Landscore Primary School's summer fair, held at the school last Friday evening.

A truly glorious event, the school band played, there were other displays, entertainment, stalls, things to do, face painting, with the big event being a chance to look at the new classroom, all about food.

Landscore is passionate about using food as a way to improve the whole school experience and teacher, Mrs Mei-Lin Houston, the Food for Life co-ordinator, added that the school was committed to local producers as well as using their own produce.

This is one of the school's values with its own kitchen, cooking its own meals, committed as much as possible to cutting down air miles for food, benefitting the local economy.

Transforming the former art room into a Design and Technology room with cooking facilities was a big part of all that.

At the fair, the new room was formally opened by Jane Gilbert and Christian Garside, son of Landscore PTA chairman, Nigel Garside cutting a ribbon made of red crepe paper, decorated with pictures of some of the vegetables the pupils grow.

Landscore has become part of the Food for Life Partnership. This is a national programme that recognises schools that work hard at making sure food education is part of the curriculum.

It also has its own School Nutrition Action Group (SNAG), comprising pupil representatives plus teachers, governors, the school cook and catering partner!

Teacher and Food for Life co-ordinator, Mrs Mei-Lin Houston, explained that the PTA had raised lots of money to pay for the utensils and equipment for the new room.

This included halogen hobs, colanders, spoons, jugs and more. At the fete the youngsters were hoping to raise enough money to pay for the seeds for next year.

Jewson's supplied the kitchen which was fitted by Jonathan Jones of Crediton with other parents helping.

Later in the evening a cheque for £1,000 was received by Landscore headteacher Gary Read from the PTA, presented by chairman Nigel Garside. He said the PTA raises between £2,000 and £3,000 each year for the school.

Each class decides what it wants to grow. The children have been working out crop rotation and there is now a growing timetable. Pupils visit farms to see where some food comes from.

Among the sideshows and entertainment at the fair were members of Tiverton and District Model Engineering Club with a very small scale steam engine and carriage, giving rail rides, and a stationary diesel model engine to look at.

Sue Read