Schools: Food

This government is committed to delivering on our pledge to provide free breakfast clubs in every state-funded school with primary aged children. We have made fast progress with up to 750 schools starting to deliver from this April. Free, universal breakfast clubs will mean that every primary school child, no matter their circumstances, is well prepared to learn, including through the provision of a healthy, nutritious breakfast, giving children the energy they need to start the school day.

The school food standards, which regulate the food and drink provided at school, already apply to breakfasts. The standards restrict foods high in fat, salt and sugar, as well as low quality reformed or reconstituted foods, and ensures that pupils always have healthy options.

Alongside the existing ‘School food standards’ statutory guidance, earlier this month we published guidance for the early adopter schools, which provides additional helpful guidance on which foods should be served at breakfast clubs to ensure that the school food standards are met.

More broadly, the department’s aim is to deliver better life chances for all through a system which works for all. As part of this, as with all government programmes, we will keep our approach to the school food standards under continued review.