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Update to your School Food Standards course

Following the publication of the updated School Food Standards guidance on 14 September 2026, we are replacing our existing training with two new phase-specific courses:

The Certificate in Understanding the School Food Standards will be archived on 7 October 2026. After this date, you will no longer be able to access or complete the course.

This course is assigned in a Learning Plan. What do I need to do?

We recommend reviewing and updating your Learning Plans ahead of 7 October. From this date, the course will no longer be available to complete and will be removed from Learning Plans.

What should I do if I haven’t completed the course?

If you or your colleagues have previously started our Certificate in Understanding the School Food Standards but have not yet completed the course, you can complete the current course before 7 October or book the new Primary course or Secondary course appropriate to your setting:

Why is the training changing?

The Department for Education has published the first major update to the School Food Standards guidance in over a decade, giving schools a year to prepare for the new expectations. Schools are expected to be fully ready to comply from September 2027.

Preparation includes reviewing the new standards with catering providers; assessing menus, contracts and procurement arrangements; preparing to appoint a lead governor for school food; and getting ready to publish a school food policy and menus on the school website from September 2027.

New phase-specific training

To help schools prepare, our new courses provide dedicated training for Primary and Secondary settings, reflecting the updated guidance and the different considerations for each phase.

They will cover the new requirements and compliance expectations, alongside nutritional foundations, food groups, hydration and beverage standards, menu planning, monitoring and more.