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The School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS) helps your child achieve 5 A Day.
Fruit and vegetables are a good source of the nutrients that children need and form part of a healthy, balanced diet.
It's recommended that children – like adults – eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables every day.
But research shows that on average children in England only eat about 3 portions, with many eating fewer.
The SFVS and your child
If your child is aged 4 to 6 and attends a fully state-funded infant, primary or special school in England, they're entitled to receive a free piece of fruit or vegetable each school day.
That provides 1 of their 5 A Day portions, and the scheme also helps to increase awareness of the importance of eating fruit and vegetables, encouraging healthy eating habits that can be carried into later life.
Teachers find that distributing the fruit in class groups helps to encourage a sharing, calm, social time.
It also allows them to incorporate the scheme into teaching and learning.
SFVS and the school day
The fruit and vegetables are delivered to schools 3 times a week to ensure freshness.
Depending on the season, there's a choice of:
bananas
apples
pears
carrots
tomatoes
easy-peel citrus fruits, such as satsumas
Some schools also offer strawberries when they're in season.
All the fruit and vegetables are washed before they're handed out, normally in individual class groups.
They aren't handed out at lunchtime – this ensures that the fruit and vegetables supplied aren't simply replacing the fruit and vegetables that might have been eaten at lunchtime anyway.
Find out more about healthy eating at school
If your child is aged 4 to 6, you can talk to their teacher to see if they're currently receiving a free piece of fruit or vegetable each day.
Schools and parents can download a factfile below.