School in the Spotlight: Herne Hill Primary School
Herne Hill Primary School has been one of many schools to receive a nom! Schools incursion this year.
During their two-day visit students learned about the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and the principles of Mindful Eating. They were introduced to new foods and ingredients and, developed the confidence to safely prepare a variety of healthy meals. Students then had the opportunity to taste their creations which included curry, pasta, salads, dessert and much more! At the end of the sessions, students received take home recipe booklets, which empowered them to practice their new cooking skills at home.
Herne Hill Primary School is just one of the examples of the incredible impact the nom! Schools program is having across Western Australia.
If this is something your school would like to be a part of, look out for our expression of interest survey for 2026 which will be sent in early Term 4!
Thanks to Mineral Resources and PLS for their continued support of the nom! Schools program.
Case Study
Following their incursion, the participating teacher provided a glowing report on their experience:
What did you think were the most valuable parts of your nom! Schools program? Please feel free to note any positive impacts you saw during/after your visit.
The recent nom! Schools food incursions were engaging experiences for our students. It provided a unique opportunity for them to explore new and diverse foods to them, broadening their palettes and encouraging curiosity about different cultures and cuisines.
Students were introduced to a variety of ingredients and shown how to handle and prepare them safely. The hands-on guidance in using knives and other kitchen tools with care was particularly valuable, promoting both confidence and responsibility in the kitchen.
One of the highlights of the incursion was the exposure to new recipes and alternative ways of eating. This not only sparked interest in healthy and creative food choices but also encouraged students to think differently about their meals and dietary habits.
The inclusion of take-home recipes was fantastic, allowing students to share their learning with their families and continue experimenting with cooking at home. This helped reinforce the skills and knowledge taught.
What did you think were the biggest challenges or least valuable parts of your nom! Schools program?
The biggest challenge was at the first session, as both nom! staff and volunteers and students were unknown to each other.
As the 1st session evolved, nom! staff become aware of the necessary need to explicitly give instructions, have expectations for hands up when responding to questions asked and the need to check for understanding when giving whole group instructions…making these accommodations resulted in greater success with management of program.
ALL parts of the program were very valuable and were pitched ‘just right’ to the audience/age of the students.
Final thoughts about the program
The program was exceptionally well-organised and thoroughly and thoughtfully delivered, striking a perfect balance between education and enjoyment. All the facilitators created a welcoming and inclusive environment where every student felt encouraged to participate, ask questions and try new things.
The interactive nature of the sessions kept students engaged throughout and the practical skills they gained -safe knife handling, introducing new foods and food textures in innovative lessons and even solely the cooking techniques – were all invaluable life skills. It was clear that a great deal of care and planning went into making the experience meaningful and very educational.
We would highly recommend this program to other schools looking to enrich their students’ learning in a fun, hands-on way. Back in the classroom, we enriched the nom! Schools incursion even further looking at writing a Procedure (recipes), writing lists (ingredients) and a card writing activity and thank you speech.
