TEACHERS TOLD TO ENSURE PACKED LUNCHES ARE NOT SEEN AS A 'BETTER' OPTION AMID SCHOOL MEALS SHAKE-UP

Teachers are being reminded to ensure packed lunches are not seen as a 'better' option for pupils following Labour's shake-up of school meals.

The first new school food standards for more than a decade will introduce a sweeping overhaul of school meals.

Sugary drinks and foods such as ice cream and waffles will be restricted, while deep-fried foods are cut, according to the Department for Education (DfE).

Foods high in fat and salt such as pizzas and sausages will also have to be limited as part of the action to tackle childhood obesity and tooth decay.

Desserts must contain or be served with fruit, while more fibrous wholegrains and pulses such as lentils will be required on menus.

A portion of vegetables or salad should also accompany, or be incorporated into, every main meal under the shake-up.

Meanwhile, amid the push to make school meals healthier, DfE has retained existing guidance for headteachers on packed lunches.

A newly-published checklist for headteachers states: 'Make sure packed lunches are not a 'better' option.

'Do not allow sugary drinks, crisps and confectionery, or offer prizes and other incentives for bringing in a healthy lunch,' it adds.

Each school will be expected to publish their menus and food policies online to help boost compliance, according to DfE.

The new school food standards will come into effect next September, with secondary schools given until September 2028 to make some of the changes.

It comes as all pupils in England from families on Universal Credit are now eligible for free school meals. 

Around one in three children are leaving primary school overweight or obese, while tooth decay is the leading cause of hospital admissions for youngsters aged five to nine.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: 'These are once-in-a-generation changes that will transform school food for children across the country.

'From our historic expansion of free school meals to the rollout of free breakfast clubs and new school food standards, we are making sure that every child has access to the healthy meals we know children need to learn, grow and succeed.

'No child should spend the school day hungry, and no family should have to struggle to put food on the table.

'This is what change looks like: healthier food, fuller stomachs and a fairer start for every child.'

Trade unions warned schools will need additional funding to comply with the new standards.

Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: '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.'

Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said: 'If the Government is serious about them working in practice it must provide significant additional funding to reflect the real costs of school meals, which these new requirements are likely to increase.

'Many schools already have to raid stretched core budgets for staffing and the curriculum to subsidise the costs.'

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2026-09-14T18:42:25Z