Inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) are planning to investigate nutrition in England’s primary schools as prompted by the UK’s Food Standards Agency.
Go deeper with GlobalData
The move is a result of increasing concern about the rise in child obesity. One in three British children is overweight, and the number of overweight teenagers is estimated to have doubled in the last 20 years.
The inspectors are likely to look at the way diet and nutrition are covered in the school curriculum, and at the types of food provided by schools.
Education authorities are required to provide nutritionally balanced meals, according to regulations introduced in 2001. An estimated four million school lunches are provided each day, according to the Local Authority Caterer’s Association, but not all authorities provide meals, particularly in primary schools. In those cases, parents are expected to provide packed lunches, apart from if parents are in receipt of benefits, in which case their children are entitled to free school meals.
The special Ofsted report on child nutrition is to be carried out by full-time inspection staff, and will not be part of the regular school inspections.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataThe FSA will send the results to schools around the country, highlighting examples of good practice, reported BBC Online.
