At School Food Matters, we have submitted our response to the School Food Standards consultation. We welcome the breadth and depth of the proposed changes to the School Food Standards, last reviewed in 2013. This is the first opportunity in more than ten years to shape school food.
What’s changing?
The changes are designed to improve the nutritional quality of school meals and include:
- More vegetables in school meals and grab-and-go options
- More wholegrains, fibre and pulses
- Limits on processed meats
- Less food and drink with high sugars
- Desserts required to contain a significant proportion of fruit
- Updated drink standards, with tighter limits on sugary drinks and fruit juice
- Strong transparency requirements
- Greater accountability for school food
See the full list of proposed updates here.
What still needs to be done?
- Stronger monitoring and enforcement
The proposed changes have strong potential to improve the nutritional quality of school meals, but standards alone are not sufficient to drive lasting change. Updated standards should be accompanied by practical implementation support, clear guidance and independent monitoring to ensure that all children benefit from the changes.
- A whole-school approach to food
School food does not exist in isolation. Positive messages should be reinforced throughout school life. A whole-school approach that aligns what children are taught about food with what they are served is more likely to improve uptake, reduce waste and create lasting changes in eating habits.
Children and young people should be involved in shaping the food served in their schools. Evidence suggests that pupils are more likely to accept and sustain healthier food choices when they have a role in designing menu changes.
- Food education
Menu changes are most successful when children are supported to understand and engage with them. Evidence from our Nourish and Food Education programmes shows that pupils are more willing to try unfamiliar foods when menu changes are accompanied by food education, tasting opportunities and positive experiences with food. Food education should be recognised as a key part of implementing the new standards successfully.
- Funding and SEND
Successful implementation will also require adequate funding and specific consideration of SEND. Schools continue to face significant budget pressures, while children in special schools are less likely to access their entitlement to free school meals. Government should ensure that schools have the resources, guidance and support needed to implement the new standards in a way that is both sustainable and inclusive.
Help us to push government to go further!
Submit your own response
Our response to this consultation has been informed by the lived experience, feedback and learning gathered through our Nourish and Food Education programmes. To build on this evidence base of in-school experience, we encourage schools, parents, individuals working in schools, or organisations working with schools, to respond to the consultation.
We have developed a template submission for those looking for a simple cut and paste, and the template can be adapted to reflect your view.
There is still one week to go until the School Food Standards consultation closes on 12th June. This is your opportunity to shape government policy and support our mission to get nutritious and delicious food on every school plate!
Submit your own consultation response here using our template submission.
