A Major new educational trial kicks off in UK primary schools to promote performance and development through optimum nutrition

• Educational campaign to improve grades and behaviour through diet and exercise
• Regular tests will assess the affect on children's performance.
• Supported by the National Association of Head Teachers and leading team of nutritionists and psychologists
• Free online questionnaire via www.foodforthebrain.org determines what changes are likely to help your child

Food for the Brain, a non-profit campaign founded by psychologist and leading nutritionist Patrick Holford, has launched a major new educational initiative, aimed at improving children's school performance through optimum nutrition in UK schools.

The trial focuses on educating parents, children, teachers and school caterers to ensure that the children are fed the most nutritional options available during the trial. Parents can fill out a free online questionnaire at www.foodforthebrain.org to test their child's diet and performance in terms of 4 golden rules - balancing blood sugar levels, vitamin and mineral levels, essential fats and eliminating food allergies. A personalised report provides an analysis of their child's health and nutrition and advises on simple changes that are likely to help maximise their potential. This educational website also contains further healthy eating tips and advice on preparing quick nutritional meals for the family.

Numerous studies have shown that taking multivitamins, essential fat supplements, reducing sugar and additives can improve children's learning potential and promote better behaviour[i]. Now, for the first time, Food for the Brain is carrying out a unique project involving two primary schools, aimed at improving children's performance and behaviour by addressing all those areas simultaneously and radically improving the children's nutrition. This pilot study will create a template that can be applied to schools throughout the UK, to ensure children are operating at their Optimum Nutrition level.

The trial launches on Monday 12 June in the first school, a school for children in London with special educational needs, who have already received a nutritional 'makeover' involving workshops with pupils, teachers and parents, encouraging them to try out new foods. A report on the Food for the Brain schools campaign will feature on the LK Today show with Lorraine Kelly from 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday 13th June.

The trial will see the provision of a healthy lunch menu by the school, approved by a team of nutritionists, as well as fresh fruit snacks and water throughout the day. Each child will receive a daily multivitamin and an essential fat supplement. Sugary drinks and snacks will be banned from sale in school for the duration of the project. The children will also be encouraged to do exercises, which enhance coordination and promote cardiovascular health.

All the children will be assessed before, during and after the project to establish the affect that the diet and exercise regime is having on their performance. The first pilot school is due to end its trial in December 2006. The second school will start the programme after the summer holidays and run through until May 2007, when the children sit their SAT exams, to enable a comparison of SAT scores from one year to the next.

" This trial could potentially have major implications for the way we think about diet and exercise in relation to our children's performance," said Patrick Holford, director of the Brain Bio Centre at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition. "We want to change the whole culture around food, not just at school but at home - and then measure the results in terms of behaviour, school grades, learning and IQ. It is more than just proving what works, we need to show schools how they can provide high quality school meals that maximise the children's potential as well as making sure parents have access to both the information and the kinds of food that makes a difference."

" We are delighted to have been given the opportunity to carry out this trial at Cricket Green School which we hope will benefit the children, parents, teachers and the whole community" said Head Teacher, Celia Dawson. "The project will be a challenge but we can see only benefits as a result. We have had tremendous support from all the families involved. We are anticipating seeing some positive changes in the school in the months to come - both in terms of educational achievement, improved behaviour and concentration levels."

" This is a fantastic initiative by Food for the Brain, from which all children in the UK should be able to benefit from," said Rona Tutt of the National Association of Head Teachers. "I am delighted that Patrick Holford is leading this educational project and look forward to the day when we can provide this level of health and nutritional advice, to all schools and parents throughout the UK."

The Food for the Brain team also includes:

• Kerry Torrens, a nutritionist who has helped students in university improve their diet.
• Fiona McDonald Joyce - Nutritionist and kitchen wizard,
• Professor David Russell - Catering expert
• Madeleine Portwood - Educational psychologist
• Deborah Colson - co-author of Optimum Nutrition for Your Child's Mind (Piatkus, 2006), who treats children with mental health problems at the Brain Bio Centre in London.