We’ve made progress; the food in our schools is miles better than it was a decade ago. Thankfully, there has been a steep reduction in junk foods and most dishes served at lunch are freshly cooked and nutritious – far more so than the average packed lunch.
Currently, the Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014, requires schools to provide children with healthy food and drink options and ensure that children get the necessary energy and nutrition throughout the school day.
These standards provide a robust yet flexible framework to ensure that pupils receive high quality and nutritious food that builds healthy eating habits for life. Therefore, I welcome the continued efforts to promote compliance with the School Food Standards.
These regulations strike the right balance between school autonomy and government intervention. For instance, the standards set out that meat or poultry must be provided on three or more days each week, and milk must be available for drinking every day which I understand is a concern for some.
Although the School Food Standards regulate the food and drink provided at both lunchtime and at other times of the school day, I believe that head teachers, school governors and caterers are best placed to make decisions about their school food policies.
As a result, the Department of Education is actively encouraging schools to speak to parents about their school meals provision, for example, by completing a statement on their websites setting out their whole school approach to food, and act reasonably to ensure it best meets the needs and beliefs of their school communities. Schools can consider local circumstances, as well as the dietary and cultural needs of their pupils, when deciding their food policies. This applies, for example, to the provision of vegan meals.
Ultimately, there has been a drastic improvement in the quality and accessibility of school food in recent years with many schools transforming school dinners, introducing food growing into the curriculum and teaching cookery. However, I recognise there is still more to do particularly in taking localised successes and ensuring they are replicated nationally.
