Universal infant free school meals implementation support launches
6 Mar 2014
David Laws, Minister for Schools, has today launched an implementation support package to help schools prepare to deliver universal free school meals for all infant pupils beginning in September.
Universal infant free school meals:
- An implementation support service, including a national helpline, run by the Children’s Food Trust and Lead Association for Catering in Education (LACA) consortium, will help schools across the country. Find out more here
- A universal infant free school meals support toolkit has been published. Find out more here
- A departmental advice document on details such as funding has been published. Find out more here
- £22.5 million transitional funding for small schools. Find out how this will be allocated here
Wider School Food Plan support contracts:
- Magic Breakfast has been contracted by the DfE to set up breakfast clubs in schools where children are coming to school hungry
- Children’s Food Trust, Food for Life Partnership (The Soil Association) and The Design and Technology Association have been contracted by DfE to increase school meal take-up in 2000 junior and secondary schools that currently have low take-up
Revised school food standards consultation:
- The DfE’s public consultation on the revised school food standards is now open. Find out more here
Read the full DfE press release here
Message from Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent:
“School food has come a long way since the dark days of the turkey twizzler. In just six months, we’re about to take another huge step forward with the introduction of free school meals for all infants and putting cooking on the curriculum. For many schools, getting ready will be a big challenge and some tough decisions will need to be made. But the evidence from past pilots in Newham and Durham show that it can be done and the government measures announced today should make it easier.
But in the end, it will be down to individual schools and their head teachers. We all need to give them the inspiration and support they need. Anyone interested or involved in the school food sector can visit www.schoolfoodplan.com for detailed support and examples of what works well, while we would urge everyone to read the School Food Plan to learn about the full range of actions underway. Last year we imagined a new golden age for school food, where well-trained, fulfilled and empowered cooks and caterers serve flavourful, fresh food and it is enjoyed by at least 70% of all pupils. That dream is closer now than we could have hoped. It’s down to all of us to make it a reality.”