Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support her Department will have in place for schools implementing changes to menus under the new School Food Standards before September 2027.

The government is committed to raising the healthiest generation ever and we have recently consulted on proposed updates to the School Food Standards in England to ensure that all food served at school better reflects current nutritional guidance and support children’s health, wellbeing and learning.

The new School Food Standards will be announced in September 2026 with implementation from September 2027. This will provide schools and caterers sufficient time to plan menus and adapt their supply chains so the changes can be embedded successfully. Additionally, a small number of requirements will be implemented from September 2028 for secondary schools. Over that time, we will continue to engage with schools, caterers and parents to help them prepare for the changes. We will be working with the sector to promote best practice and share different ways in which schools are meeting the new standards.