Call for school dinner checks
Public service union Unison has called for Ofsted to monitor the enforcement of the Education (Nutritional Standards of School Lunches) Regulations 2000, which came into effect on 1 April.
The comments came following the union's school meals workers conference held last week in London.
"Government have introduced [the regulations] and they should monitor these guidelines. I would like to see Ofsted involved, as they go into the schools already," said Christine Bailey, chairwoman of the school meals forum for Unison.
Her thoughts were echoed by Joe Harvey, director of the Health Education Trust, an independent charity which campaigns on food policy in schools. "I think the Government should be praised for setting the standards and for delegating budgets to schools, but you must have someone to check that accountability, and that has to be Ofsted," he said.
A spokesman for the Department for Education & Employment said it did not intend to "send in food police to check compliance with the standards", but conceded: "If there is a problem we will have to look at it." He said Ofsted was not currently being considered but "may be an option long-term if necessary".
