{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,2]],"date-time":"2026-08-02T04:23:47Z","timestamp":1785644627790,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,25]],"date-time":"2026-03-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774396800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Research (PHR) Programme","award":["NIHR163058"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NIHR163058"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Children and young people (CYP) with a learning disability are at higher risk of living with overweight and obesity and may consume fewer fruits and vegetables compared to the general paediatric population. They are more likely to experience eating and drinking difficulties, restrictive eating, and mealtime behavioural challenges. The school environment is considered an ideal setting to improve CYP\u2019s dietary intakes. The primary objective was to identify existing interventions to support healthier food choices for CYP attending specialist schools. Secondary objectives considered intervention development, fidelity and outcomes. Methods: A scoping review and narrative synthesis. Eligible studies were identified from bibliographic databases (e.g., Medline, Embase, PsychInfo) and grey literature (e.g., Clinicaltrials.gov, the Cochrane Library). A two-stage screening process was used. Intervention components were mapped according to the TIDieR-PHP and AACTT frameworks. Results: Seven studies, reported in ten records, were included. Interventions included modifications to the dining environment, sensory exploration, health promotion and social reinforcement. Interventions were implemented across the school day: lunchtime (n = 2), breaktime (n = 3) and other times (n = 2). Studies mainly focused on adolescents. There was some mixed evidence of increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and water. Due to small sample sizes and heterogeneity, definitive conclusions are limited. A key finding is the lack of interventions to improve CYP\u2019s food choices in specialist schools. Conclusions: This review highlights a crucial need for the development of multi-component interventions co-produced with stakeholders to promote healthy food choices and improve the dietary intakes of CYP attending specialist schools.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu18071037","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,25]],"date-time":"2026-03-25T09:11:14Z","timestamp":1774429874000},"page":"1037","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["A Scoping Review to Identify Interventions That Support Healthier Food Choices for Pupils in Specialist Schools"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7089-7197","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Suzanne","family":"Spence","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK"},{"name":"Human Nutrition & Exercise Research Centre, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Louise","family":"Tanner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK"},{"name":"NIHR Innovation Observatory, The Catalyst, 3 Science Square, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE4 5TG, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jo\u00e3o P. A.","family":"Greca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lindsay","family":"Pennington","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5691-4659","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jayne V.","family":"Woodside","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Public Health, School of Medicine, Dentistry Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences A, Queen\u2019s University Belfast, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BJ, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Morag J.","family":"Andrew","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2026, March 09). Obesity and Overweight. Available online: https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/obesity-and-overweight."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"NHS England (2025, March 12). National Child Measurement Programme, England, 2023\/24 School Year. Available online: https:\/\/digital.nhs.uk\/data-and-information\/publications\/statistical\/national-child-measurement-programme\/2023-24-school-year."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"GOV.UK (2025, March 14). Official Statistics NDNS: Results from Years 9 to 11 (2016 to 2017 and 2018 to 2019), Available online: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/statistics\/ndns-results-from-years-9-to-11-2016-to-2017-and-2018-to-2019."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"266","DOI":"10.1016\/j.maturitas.2011.08.005","article-title":"Tracking of obesity-related behaviours from childhood to adulthood: A systematic review","volume":"70","author":"Craigie","year":"2011","journal-title":"Maturitas"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S40","DOI":"10.1016\/S0002-8223(02)90421-9","article-title":"Individual and environmental influences on adolescent eating behaviors","volume":"102","author":"Story","year":"2002","journal-title":"J. Am. Diet. Assoc."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"520","DOI":"10.1016\/j.orcp.2015.10.006","article-title":"Obesity in adolescents with intellectual disability: Prevalence and associated characteristics","volume":"10","author":"Krause","year":"2016","journal-title":"Obes. Res. Clin. Pract."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"399","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rasd.2011.06.014","article-title":"Dietary patterns and body mass index in children with autism and typically developing children","volume":"6","author":"Evans","year":"2012","journal-title":"Res. Autism Spectr. Disord."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2155","DOI":"10.1002\/eat.23631","article-title":"Food selectivity, nutritional inadequacies, and mealtime behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorder compared to neurotypical children","volume":"54","author":"Planells","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Eat. Disord."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Galpin, J., Osman, L., and Paramore, C. (2018). Sensory snack time: A school-based intervention addressing food selectivity in autistic children. Front. Educ., 3.","DOI":"10.3389\/feduc.2018.00077"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"652","DOI":"10.1017\/S1368980007382529","article-title":"The contribution of school meals to food consumption and nutrient intakes of young people aged 4\u201318 years in England","volume":"10","author":"Nelson","year":"2007","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Micha, R., Karageorgou, D., Bakogianni, I., Trichia, E., Whitsel, L.P., Story, M., Pe\u00f1alvo, J.L., and Mozaffarian, D. (2018). Effectiveness of school food environment policies on children\u2019s dietary behaviors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 13.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0194555"},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"GOV.UK (2025, January 27). Schools and Education: Types of School, Available online: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/types-of-school."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"GOV.UK (2025, January 27). Special Educational Needs in England, Available online: https:\/\/explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk\/find-statistics\/special-educational-needs-in-england."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"(2025, March 11). Children\u2014Research and Statistics. Available online: https:\/\/www.mencap.org.uk\/learning-disability-explained\/research-and-statistics\/children-research-and-statistics."},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"Legislation.gov.uk (2025, March 12). The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014, Available online: https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/uksi\/2014\/1603\/pdfs\/uksi_20141603_en.pdf."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1186\/s12966-020-00983-y","article-title":"A systematic review of school meal nudge interventions to improve youth food behaviors","volume":"17","author":"Metcalfe","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Greca, J.P.d., Andrew, M., Spence, S., Pennington, L., Woodside, J.V., McSweeney, L., and Tanner, L. (2025, January 27). Exploring Specialist Schools Food and Identifying Evidence-Based Interventions to Support Healthier Food Choices: Protocol for a Scoping Review. Available online: https:\/\/figshare.com\/articles\/online_resource\/Exploring_Specialist_Schools_food_and_identifying_evidence-based_interventions_to_support_healthier_food_choices_protocol_for_a_scoping_review\/28060925\/1."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"g7647","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.g7647","article-title":"Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: Elaboration and explanation","volume":"349","author":"Shamseer","year":"2015","journal-title":"BMJ Br. Med. J."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"467","DOI":"10.7326\/M18-0850","article-title":"PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation","volume":"169","author":"Tricco","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ann. Intern. Med."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"727","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dhjo.2019.03.012","article-title":"A school-based mentoring program developing healthy behaviors of adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A pilot feasibility study","volume":"12","author":"Jihoun","year":"2019","journal-title":"Disabil. Health J."},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"City of Westminster (2025, January 27). What Is Alternative Provision?, Available online: https:\/\/fisd.westminster.gov.uk\/kb5\/westminster\/fis\/advice.page?id=kZF266DPp6I."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"210","DOI":"10.1186\/s13643-016-0384-4","article-title":"Rayyan\u2014A web and mobile app for systematic reviews","volume":"5","author":"Ouzzani","year":"2016","journal-title":"Syst. Rev."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102","DOI":"10.1186\/s13012-019-0951-x","article-title":"Action, actor, context, target, time (AACTT): A framework for specifying behaviour","volume":"14","author":"Presseau","year":"2019","journal-title":"Implement. Sci."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"k1079","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.k1079","article-title":"TIDieR-PHP: A reporting guideline for population health and policy interventions","volume":"361","author":"Campbell","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"200","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclinepi.2015.09.013","article-title":"A newly developed tool for classifying study designs in systematic reviews of interventions and exposures showed substantial reliability and validity","volume":"70","author":"Seo","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Clin. Epidemiol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1111\/jppi.12020","article-title":"Eating Patterns Among Students With Intellectual Disabilities After a Multifactorial School Intervention Using the Plate Model","volume":"10","author":"Christensson","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Policy Pract. Intellect. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"361","DOI":"10.1017\/S1368980014000305","article-title":"Impact of a Smarter Lunchroom intervention on food selection and consumption among adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a residential school setting","volume":"18","author":"Hubbard","year":"2015","journal-title":"Public Health Nutr."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1170","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ridd.2012.12.006","article-title":"Physical activity, dietary habits and overall health in overweight and obese children and youth with intellectual disability or autism","volume":"34","author":"Hinckson","year":"2013","journal-title":"Res. Dev. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1074","DOI":"10.1089\/acm.2020.0215","article-title":"Using physical food transformation to enhance the sensory approval of children with autism spectrum disorders for consuming fruits and vegetables","volume":"26","author":"Chung","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Altern. Complement. Med."},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"342","article-title":"The Good Nutrition Game: Extending the Good Behavior Game to Promote Fruit and Vegetable Intake","volume":"88","author":"Cassey","year":"2016","journal-title":"Del. Med. J."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"342","DOI":"10.1007\/s10803-007-0401-5","article-title":"Development and validation of an inventory to assess mealtime behavior problems in children with autism","volume":"38","author":"Lukens","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Autism. Dev. Disord."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-59745-530-5_19","article-title":"Power and sample size","volume":"404","author":"Case","year":"2007","journal-title":"Top. Biostat."},{"key":"ref_33","first-page":"55","article-title":"Multiple comparisons in biomedical research: The problem and its solutions","volume":"27","author":"Narkevich","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ekol. Cheloveka (Hum. Ecol.)"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"817","DOI":"10.1093\/tbm\/ibad043","article-title":"A call for obesity prevention interventions for young children with intellectual and developmental disabilities","volume":"13","author":"Schenkelberg","year":"2023","journal-title":"Transl. Behav. Med."}],"container-title":["Nutrients"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/18\/7\/1037\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,25]],"date-time":"2026-03-25T09:36:06Z","timestamp":1774431366000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2072-6643\/18\/7\/1037"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,25]]},"references-count":34,"journal-issue":{"issue":"7","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]}},"alternative-id":["nu18071037"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nu18071037","relation":{},"ISSN":["2072-6643"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2072-6643","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,25]]}}}