A practical guide for schools their cooks and caterers. The revised school food standards have been designed to make it easier for school cooks to create imaginative, flexible and nutritious menus.

Schools have a vital role to play in teaching children about the importance of a good school food culture, which can significantly improve pupil health and wellbeing. However, many schools need support to take on this important role.<br /> <br /> The School Food Plan has worked with over 40 expert organisations to produce a free interactive training resource for all school staff. It will help staff to understand the importance of a good school food culture and to support them to deliver improvements in pupil health and wellbeing. The resource is supported by the Department for Education and Public Health England. <br /> <br /> The resource kit to support delivery of this training can be downloaded from the School Food Plan website:<br /> www.schoolfoodplan.com/teacher-training <br />

Getting started. A checklist of actions every school can take to improve the quality and take-up of its food, and transform the food culture. We have categorised the actions based on the things we have observed that schools do well.

The School Food Plan was published in July 2013 as the result of an independent review of school food, commissioned by the Department for Education. Written by Henry Dimbleby and John Vincent, it is made up of agreed actions that aim to transform what children eat at school, and how they learn about food.

Ofsted’s Common Inspection Framework includes a judgement on personal development, behaviour and welfare. As part of reaching this judgement, inspectors will look at the extent to which schools are successfully supporting pupils to gain “knowledge of how to keep themselves healthy” and “make informed choices about healthy eating, [and] fitness” throughout their entire inspection.<br /> <br /> The School Food Plan has produced this practical guidance to help school leaders and governing bodies adopt a whole school approach to food. It is designed to be used alongside other School Food Plan resources including the Headteacher Checklist and What Works Well Website.

The &quot;What Works Well&quot; website brings together the best examples and ideas for delivering great food and food education in schools. It contains case studies, practical advice, and signposting to resources. Resources include the Headteachers Checklist, Ofsted guidance to support schools create a culture and ethos of healthy eating and guidance for governors produced in collaboration with the NGA. www.schoolfoodplan.com/www

Governing bodies are responsible for the provision of school food and play a crucial role in creating and embedding a great school food culture.<br /> <br /> The School Food Plan, in collaboration with the National Governors’ Association, has produced guidance to support governors in championing a whole school approach to food and help create a culture and ethos of healthy eating. It is designed to be used alongside other School Food Plan resources including the Headteacher Checklist and What Works Well website.