School meals
New guidelines on the nutritional value of processed foods such as beef burgers and sausages will be introduced into schools in England from September.
Education secretary Ruth Kelly has revealed plans to tighten the health requirements for school meals and give parents more say on the quality of the food.
The food industry, schools and nutritionists will also be consulted on what should be on menus, which have been criticised as "unhealthy".
Government Response: Department for Education and Skills
Ruth Kelly, secretary of state for education, said: "Parents want to know that when children are eating school meals they are getting the quality of what they would serve at home.
"I want parents to become more involved in schools, not only in the quality of education, but in everything that their child experiences within the school gates - including what they eat.
"We have already set down minimum standards for school dinners, but they are just that - a minimum. We are now working to raise the bar and support schools and parents to improve school meals ahead of the introduction of comprehensive, tougher standards next year."
Government Response: Department of Health
John Reid, secretary of state for health, said: "Children's health must come first. We want to make sure that children have access to healthy diets both in and out of school.
"Our public health white paper takes action to tackle childhood obesity not only through providing healthier food during the school day but by giving people the information and support they need to make healthy choices - for themselves and their children."
Party Response: Conservative
Tim Collins, shadow education secretary, said: "This is beyond parody. Labour won't let you choose your child's school, but they want you to join a committee to discuss their school dinners.
"We will trust head teachers and their professional colleagues to devise eye-catching and nutritious menus. They should trust parents to know which school is best for their children. After polling day, we will bring forward proposals to do just that."
Party Response: Liberal Democrats
Phil Willis, education spokesman, said: "I'm delighted that at long last the government is taking steps to address the nutritional value of food in schools.
"This is an eye catching proposal but on its own is not enough to tackle the growing problem of childhood obesity in this country.
"This measure addresses only one half of the 'energy in, energy out' equation. The government should establish a requirement for physical activity by all children within the school day, not simply in after school clubs.
"It is not enough to simply focus on processed foods. Schools need to provide well-balanced meals, rich in fruit and vegetables, which are also attractive to young children. That is the challenge we must meet if we are to change the eating habits of a generation."
Stakeholder Response: Professional Association of Teachers
PAT general secretary Jean Gemmell said: "A good diet and good health go hand in hand. We welcome initiatives to promote healthy eating. Schools can play an important part in encouraging pupils to eat more healthily.
"We would welcome getting parents more involved by giving them a say on school meals.
"However, the promotion of healthy eating has to start in the home, with encouragement from the government through the media. Children eat a lot more meals at home and elsewhere than they do at school.
"We would also like to see more restrictions on the promotion of junk foods to children.
"Exercise plays a key role too. Over the past 20 years, the proportion of children travelling to school by car has almost doubled and the proportion of pupils walking or cycling has decreased significantly, so it is not surprising that levels of childhood obesity have increased.
"Obviously many children live too far from school to walk or cycle, especially in rural areas, but this is an issue which should be addressed. Statistics show that in urban areas at
"The amount of time dedicated to school sports and PE has declined in recent years because of the pressures of the curriculum and the government's standards and testing agenda.
"We look forward to participating in the consultation."
Stakeholder Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "The problem of childhood obesity in this country is fully recognised. Schools should be a place where young people can eat healthily, but this isn’t easy for those that are cash strapped.
"Schools’ restricted spending, per pupil per meal, contrasts poorly with countries such as
"ATL’s concern over this issue will be highlighted in a resolution to our annual conference next month."
Stakeholder Response: Secondary Heads Association
Dr
"I appeal to the government to carefully consider how it rolls out this initiative so that it doesn’t become yet another bureaucratic exercise taking school leaders away from the central task of raising achievement.
"I appreciate the government’s efforts to involve parents in improving their children’s diets, but I question Ruth Kelly’s assumption that the majority of students eat healthier, better-quality meals at home. Far too many families provide poor diets for their children.
"The key factor in improving diet is education and choice, for students and parents. At secondary level, schools can offer healthy meals but in the end they cannot make students eat them.
"Schools now offer many options and young people have to be educated about healthy eating to want to change their diet. In this, schools are working against the pressures from the food industry on children to eat all manner of unhealthy products."
Stakeholder Response: National Consumer Council
Mike O’Neill, senior policy officer at the National Consumer Council, said: "Improving nutritional standards for the kind of food our children eat in schools are long overdue. Current trends suggest that half our children will be obese by 2020, so any measures that aim to cut fat and sugar in their diets is a step in the right direction.
"The key to its success will now depend on how these changes are introduced, delivered and monitored."
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