School food standards: requirements
There are legal standards for school food, set out in The Requirements for School Food Regulations 2014. The legislation specifies which types of food and drinks should be served at school and how often.
These regulations are compulsory for:
- All maintained schools
- Certain academies depending on when they were opened (check your funding agreement)
Academies that don't have these regulations covered in their funding agreements, are only expected to comply with them.
They cover food and drink provided to pupils on and off school premises up to 6pm
This includes:
- School lunches
- Breakfast clubs
- Tuck shops
- Mid-morning breaks
- Vending machines
- After-school clubs
Lunches provided to other people on a school's premises must also meet these standards.
They also apply to other food provided before 6pm on school trips where the trip is for at least 7 days.
At parties or celebrations to mark religious or cultural occasions At fundraising events As rewards for