EARLY YEARS BLOG
Here at Farringtons Prep School, we firmly believe that the joy of learning extends far beyond the classroom. Indeed, where better to discover new skills and create lasting memories than in the heart of the home – the kitchen! Cooking with children is a fantastic way to teach them invaluable life lessons, from the precision of measuring to a deeper understanding of where their food comes from.
Our top tips for terrific cooking adventures with children
- Start with simplicity: choose recipes that have a short list of ingredients and easy-to-follow, straightforward instructions.
- Embrace the chaos: a little bit of mess is all part of the fun and the learning process! Focus on the enjoyment and the shared experience.
- Delegate age-appropriate duties: younger children can be fantastic helpers with tasks like washing fruits and vegetables or stirring ingredients.
- Practice patience: things might take a little longer with enthusiastic little helpers, but the memories you create together are priceless.
- Celebrate the journey: the primary goal is to have fun and learn together along the way.
How we support cooking at school
- Early Years explorers: in Early Years, we regularly introduce the children to a vibrant array of new foods from around the world, such as exciting noodle varieties during our Japanese topic. The children also have wonderful opportunities to create simple recipes in class, including delicious banana bread, yummy biscuits and festive Easter cakes.
- Bringing learning to life: we believe in hands-on learning! Our pupils have the chance to grow their own vegetables and fruit in our very own kitchen garden. Subsequently, these fresh, homegrown ingredients are then used in our school lunchtime recipes, providing a fantastic connection between the garden and the plate. Early Years pupils particularly enjoyed reading “Pumpkin Soup” and were able to watch our Head Chef, Glen, prepare pumpkin soup for their lunch.
- Key Stage 2 and beyond: children in Key Stage 2 and above have the exciting opportunity to develop their culinary skills further in our dedicated Food & Nutrition classrooms.
Therefore, grab those aprons, roll up your sleeves, and get ready for some delightful culinary explorations. Our fantastic Catering Team have shared their favourite recipe to make with children below:
Recipe
Ingredients:
- 100g milk chocolate broken up
- 50g dark chocolate broken up
- 100g butter
- 4 tbsp golden syrup
- 100g puffed rice
- To decorate: 50g milk chocolate melted, sprinkles, mini marshmallows
Method:
- Firstly, put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl with the butter and golden syrup and gently melt in 10-second bursts in the microwave, or melt it over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Stir until smooth, then take off the heat and stir in the puffed rice, coating them gently with the chocolate until they are all completely covered.
- Next, divide the mixture between nine cupcake or 12 fairy cake paper cases – it’s easier if you slide these into a muffin tin as it will help them hold their shape. Leave to set. If you want them to set faster, put in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Finally drizzle with a little melted chocolate and decorate with sweets, marshmallows or dried fruit while they are still wet enough to stick them on. Will keep in an airtight container for five days.
Happy cooking from everyone here at Farringtons School!
