Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on confirmation of new school food standards from September 2027.
“We welcome these updates to the existing standards already followed by schools as an important step in making meals even healthier and more nutritious. We hope that the government will now support schools with the funding necessary to deliver these standards.
“The current funding rate for free school meals is not enough to cover costs and many schools have to divert money from teaching and learning in order to afford this vital provision. It is a case of having to rob Peter to pay Paul.
“We hope the government also takes seriously the challenges to nutrition and health beyond the school gates because of the limited access many families have to affordable and healthy food options. This is also a major factor in children’s health and food standards shouldn’t be confined to schools.”