Guidance

Standards for school food in England

Guidance on the standards for planning and providing food in schools.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 8 January 2015
• Last updated: 23 June 2023 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

School food in England

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Details

Information for schools on planning and preparing healthy food is available in School food standards: resources for schools.

This is for governing boards of:

• all local-authority-maintained schools
• pupil referral units (these provide education for children who cannot go to a mainstream school)
• academies and free schools
• non-maintained special schools (a school for children with special educational needs that the Secretary of State for Education has approved under section 342 of the Education Act 1996)

It includes information on:

• planning and provision of school food
• the school food plan
• the provision of milk
• the free fruit and vegetables scheme

Published 8 January 2015
Last updated 23 June 2023 + show all updates

1. 23 June 2023

   One sentence has been changed for clarity. 'Compliance with the requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 is mandatory for all maintained schools including academies and free schools’ now says ‘Compliance with the requirements for School Food Regulations 2014 is mandatory for all maintained schools, academies and free schools.’

2. 21 June 2023

   Updated the 'Important information' section in 'School food in England' to clarify standards on school trips.

3. 26 August 2021

   Updated to remove references to EU law that no longer apply and added a link to the labelling of allergens on prepacked for direct sales food.

4. 26 March 2019

   Updated 'School food in England' and included a link to healthy eating resources for schools.

5. 9 September 2016

   Updated information on where the School Food Standards are mandatory for some academies and free schools.

6. 14 July 2016

   Added the 2016 version of the document.

7. 8 January 2015

   First published.