Updated guidance on providing food parcels
LACA, Public Health England (PHE) and the Department for Education (DfE) have created updated guidance on lunch food parcels, which will allow parents or carers to prepare healthy lunches for children at home.
DfE announced the free school meal parcels will continue to be distributed after the February half term to help vulnerable pupils.
The food parcels should contain a balance of items from the different food groups. Each parcel should include starchy foods, such as bread, potatoes and pasta; fruit and vegetables to provide at least one of your five-a-day; protein foods such as beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other non-dairy products. Finally, they should include dairy foods such as milk, cheese and yoghurt.
The food parcels should not contain any items restricted under the School Food Standards, such as chocolate, crisps or confectionary. Parcels should cater for all children of school age who require special diets (allergies, vegan or religious diets).
On 14 January 2021 the DfE agreed to fund an additional £3.50 per week to children who are eligible for free school meals.
Read moreLatest News
27/04/2026 - 09:45
Forty-four per cent of education professionals are unfamiliar with the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, otherwise known as Martyn’s Law, according to new research.
24/04/2026 - 12:32
A survey by Save My Exams has found that 40% of students are regularly disrupted by noise at home.
23/04/2026 - 10:13
A survey of 1,105 teachers reveals many senior leaders reporting cuts to teaching assistants (71%), support staff (49%) and teaching staff (30%).
23/04/2026 - 09:30
A report from the Digital Poverty Alliance show that while digital tools are now embedded across school routines, access and usability remain deeply uneven.
22/04/2026 - 09:28
School food improvement programme Nourish is set to launch in Cumberland in 2026, working with schools to improve the quality and culture of food throughout the school day
