Oxfordshire pre-schoolers learn cooking skills with grant

Customers from Tesco stores across Witney voted to donate £500 to nearby Leafield Pre-school as part of the supermarket’s Stronger Starts Grant scheme.

The funds went towards an accessible cooking project, with the school buying cooking equipment and ingredients, and bringing in special guests.

Leafield Pre-school children take part in a cooking session (Image: Tiger Bond) The pre-school was also able to expand the project without the need for parental donations, ensuring all children, regardless of their background, could take part.

The weekly cooking sessions taught the children about nutrition and helped them to develop their problem-solving abilities and strengthen their motor skills through chopping and mixing.

Throughout the project, they created fruit skewers and crafting lunchboxes, held baking for community coffee mornings, surprised primary school teachers on Thank You Teacher Day with hand-delivered treats, and also prepared a Christmas dinner.

Leafield ensured the project focused on healthy eating, balanced diets, and cultural exploration by introducing the children to foods from around the world.

Leafield Pre-school children take part in a cooking session (Image: Tiger Bond) Jodie Clatworthy, manager at Leafield Pre-school, said: "We’re incredibly grateful to the community, and to Tesco for being able to provide the children with an accessible, new and exciting way to learn, thanks to the Stronger Start grant.

"Without it, we would’ve had to ask parents to contribute, but with many families facing challenging times at the moment, it would’ve meant children would’ve missed out.

"The children not only created delicious meals, they also learnt a variety of life skills.

"Being able to equip them with key knowledge around nutrition at a young age will allow them to make the right choices later in life.

Leafield Pre-school children take part in a cooking session (Image: Tiger Bond) "It’s been wonderful watching them grow and seeing the sense of pride they’d get when presenting their parents with their latest creations was heart warming."

Claire De Silva, head of community at Tesco, added: "At Tesco, we believe that learning about food and nutrition from a young age is essential for a healthy future.

"We’re thrilled to have supported Leafield in providing such a fun and educational initiative.

"It’s wonderful to know that these cooking sessions are giving children the skills they need to grow and thrive in all areas of life.

Leafield Pre-school children take part in a cooking session (Image: Tiger Bond) "Through our grants, we aim to help educators make a lasting difference in the lives of young learners."

The Stronger Starts grants award funds to charities and community organisations that make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people.

Organisations can apply, and, if successful, are put forward for a vote at their local Tesco stores, where customers choose which three projects they would like to support by using blue tokens provided at checkout.