A cook at Broadford Primary School on Skye has been named the Highland Council’s Employee of the Year for 2018 after excelling in promoting healthy eating to youngsters.
Annette Burfoot, who has worked at the island school for 11 years, has also been praised for inspiring pupils to further educate in nutrition and healthy eating habits.
Highland Council’s catering services manager Sue Nield said: “Annette’s proactive role within her school is the very heart of what our school meals are all about. Her relationship with staff and children is inspirational.
“With her encouragement, pupils are eating and enjoying a wide variety of foods. One of the favourite vegetables on the menu is kale – it’s the way she cooks it and crisps it up which the pupils love! She is always willing to do the best that she can in supporting her school and the whole community.”
The Broadford cook was presented with the award by Leader of the Highland Council Margaret Davidson and Manish Garg of WIPRO, the IT provider for the local authority, at a ceremony held in Inverness Town House on Thursday evening.
One parent added: “I’ve seen first-hand the passion Annette she has for cooking healthy balanced meals and how much she cares about all the children getting a good meal. She is a credit to her profession and to Broadford Primary.”
Mrs Burfoot was also named as runner-up in the Scottish School Cook of the Year award earlier this year, with all the fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit used in her award-winning dish grown by the pupils at Broadford Primary.