Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the additional cost per meal of implementing the revised School Food Standards; and whether funding will be available to schools and caterers for those costs, including kitchen equipment and staff training.

The department wants the updated School Food Standards to result in nutritious and affordable menu options. Throughout the development of the revised standards, the department engaged closely with caterers, including through piloting menus based on proposed changes, and will continue to work with the sector to support implementation.

The updated standards will come into force in September 2027, subject to approval by Parliament. This will provide schools, caterers and supply chains with a substantial lead-in period to prepare for any necessary operational changes.

Mainstream schools receive a single core funding allocation, rather than separate budgets for individual elements of provision, such as catering. In 2026/27, schools can receive £505 for each pupil recorded as eligible for free school meals in the October school census. This funding is provided as an annual per-pupil amount and forms part of a school's overall core funding allocation.