The IndependentSchool Food Plan

DfE announces additional £20 million of capital funding for new UIFSM projects

Schools Minister David Laws has written to local authorities about more funding to help schools serving universal infant free school meals (UIFSM). The Department for Education is now making an additional £20 million of capital funding available, from within the UIFSM budget. This is for new projects aimed at enhancing kitchen and dining facilities. Read the letter here [ http://bit.ly/1oea7kn ]

The application form for local authorities to bid for UIFSM capital funding is available here [http://bit.ly/1DiiMp9 ]

Checklist for Head Teachers

We know how busy schools are. The idea of turning round your food service – or merely nudging it from good to great – may seem daunting. So we want to make it as easy as possible for you. Whether you have just implemented UIFSM and want to know what to do next, or whether you are trying to improve the dining experience; we hope this will help. Download the checklist here.

Free support available for school meals

All schools, Local Authorities, academy trusts and caterers who are directly involved in providing universal infant free school meals can access The Children’s Food Trust’s (CFT) free advice service. You may also be eligible for direct support from the specialist delivery partners working with CFT and LACA.

Additional free support  is also available to support schools and Local Authorities increase take-up of school food. An action of the School Food Plan is to kick-start increased take-up of good school food and help schools break-even.

The Department for Education has commissioned the Food for Life Partnership, the Children’s Food Trust, and the Design and Technology Association to help junior and secondary schools make improvements to increase their school meal take-up.

These brilliant organisations are working directly with schools, academy chains and local authorities across England to help schools link school meals, food education and food culture together – driving the ‘whole school approach’.

 Find out more here: