At Portland School, the implementation of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches Programme initially started by utilising an external provider to provide the school lunches, which proved to be ideal for the size of the school at that time, accommodating 40 students. The external model proved helpful in introducing the tamariki to new foods and the students' palates began to develop. 

The external model, however, did not align with the schools' strategic goals of environmental sustainability and garden-to-table principles. The schools' teachers and board worked hard to establish Ka Ora, Ka Ako that aligned with these goals, therefore switching to internally delivering the programme. Portland School decided to invest significant funds into developing the kitchen space to accommodate the growing roll of now 76 students. 

The shift from the external to the internal model presented an opportunity to provide a job within the local community, which also aligns with the schools' goals. Portland School has now employed someone who has become an integral part of the team. There is now more control over what is being served to the students and it can complement the school lunches with what is being grown in the gardens as well as what tamariki are learning in class. Having school caterer Sandra Browne on board for the preparation of kai, she is able to cater to the fluctuating attendance. The school can now prepare meals for the number of students present each day, therefore reducing waste. 

Portland school has also incorporated a focus on whanaungatanga by creating a space for connection between tamariki and all school staff. Through reflection, staff realised that by serving meals at the beginning of lunchtime students would quickly eat to then be able to get out and play. The mealtime has now been changed to the end of the break adopting the play, eat and learn response, with music playing, tamariki can be seen dancing, riding scooters, playing on the playground or exploring the taiao. Before each meal, a karakia is said, enabling the students to connect with the food they are eating and express gratitude for it. All school staff are present and eat with the tamariki, role modelling healthy eating habits, table manners along with washing up once they have finished their kai. 

In addition to the school lunches programme, Portland School also has a teeth brushing programme. This programme aims to promote good oral hygiene habits among the students and improve their dental health. Tamariki and kaiako brush their teeth every day after lunch, this being another lens of hauora that has been implemented into the day for tamariki. 

Portland School Principal Shane Nicholas commented that the tamariki are “way more focused, more engaged and just look well and that's just from a good meal a day. Coupled with the teeth brushing programme you are really setting tamariki up for success.” 

The kitchen has become a hub of activity for the school. As the school cook, Sandra Browne is not a teacher, this allows her to build relationships with the children that are different from those of the teachers as Principal Shane explains “She is an absolute rockstar in the tamariki’s eyes”. Another more unexpected benefit that has been seen from this new approach has been the aroma of cooking food making the students excited about eating and has helped build healthy appetites. 

Rael and Mia, students at Portland school say the kai is “yum and delicious and different to what I would normally have at home”. They go onto explain how they get to grow vegetables in the school garden such as lettuce and kūmara and that kūmara chips are their favourite. 

Sandra the school caterer comments that she enjoys “seeing the kids enjoying eating and looking forward to it”. Tamariki are encouraged to try new foods and as all students are eating together this encourages them to give new foods a go when they see their friends and kaiako eating them. “I just cook what I would at home, it’s home-cooked meals, blending vegetables up so they are ‘hidden’ throughout the meals and sauces.” 

Overall, the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme has been successful, benefiting the students' health, engaging the community with the school, and building capacity through investments in the kitchen and garden. Principal Shane, the Board of Trustees and the school staff have been instrumental in the success of the programme, providing leadership and support to establish a more sustainable and healthy approach to school lunches. 

Where to from here? The next steps for Portland School are focusing on bringing in a school-wide policy on sugar and what kai tamariki are bringing to school, having important conversations and focusing on educating the students and whānau. Along with this, a further steppingstone will be incorporating tamariki in the preparation phase of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako programme.