Schools face staffing cuts to pay for Labour's healthy meals shake-up, headteachers warn as deep-fried food is banned and lentils are made compulsory

A new healthy eating diktat for school dinners could result in staffing cuts and further 'divert money from teaching' as budgets are squeezed, headteachers warned today.Schools across England will have to cut down on serving pupils sweetened baked desserts under the first new school food standards for more than a decade.The desserts must contain or be served with fruit as part of the Department for Education's sweeping overhaul aimed at tackling childhood obesity and tooth decay.Sugary drinks and foods such as ice cream will also be restricted, while deep-fried foods are cut. Foods high in fat and salt such as pizzas will also have to be limited.More fibrous wholegrains and pulses such as lentils and chickpeas will be required on menus alongside main meal options at least once a week - while a portion of vegetables or salad should accompany, or be incorporated into, every main meal.But leaders have warned schools will need additional funding to comply with the new rules, given a kilogram of chicken nuggets costs the same as two chicken breasts.Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'The current funding rate for free school meals is not enough to cover costs.'Many schools have to divert money from teaching and learning in order to afford this vital provision. It is a case of having to rob Peter to pay Paul.' Paul Whiteman, the National Association of Head Teachers general secretary, added: 'If the government is serious about them working in practice it must provide significant additional funding to reflect the real costs of school meals, which these new requirements are likely to increase.'Many schools already have to raid stretched core budgets for staffing and the curriculum to subsidise the costs.'He also said any checks must not place 'additional burdens' on 'already over-stretched' school leaders.The changes mean the traditional 'fish and chips Friday' lunches loved by many pupils will still be permitted, but must be prepared using oven baking instead.In addition, sweetened desserts such as cake, waffles and ice cream can be served only twice a week in secondary schools, and once in primary schools – and must include a portion of fruit. Previously, cakes and desserts were allowed every lunchtime.Under the new rules, all bread must be at least half wholemeal in its composition - whereas previously it could be all white.Processed meat products, such as sausages and chicken nuggets, can be served only once a week and all pasta must be at least 50 per cent wholewheat once a week.Condiments will also have new regulations, with only reduced salt and sugar ketchup permitted and chocolate spread not allowed.Meanwhile, breakfast clubs, which previously had no specifications, must not include pastries, fried eggs and high-sugar cereals such as Coco Pops.Nigel Wright, headteacher at Oakmoor School in Bordon, Hampshire, told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'If we want to deliver on fresh ingredients and greater quality food, then we need to be given the budget to support that.'When you can buy a kilogram of chicken nuggets for the same price as two chicken breasts, then we really do have an issue.'Each school will be expected to publish their menus and food policies online to help boost compliance.They will also be expected to nominate a school food governor who will hold schools to account for the meals on offer.Mr Wright added: 'I think schools should be able to explain what they feed their children and parents should be able to see the menu.'But ultimately, if this is a compliance check that generates more paperwork but doesn't actually improve the quality of food that's on the child's plate, then it's meaningless.'Schools will have to cut down on serving pupils sweetened baked desserts (stock photo) Farzana Ahmed, principle of Oasis Academy Blakenhale in Birmingham, accepted monitoring of schools was 'important'.But she also told the BBC that they 'probably need some more guidance from the government on what that's going to look like on a day-to-day basis'.The Tories have also criticised the reforms, saying there are 'much bigger things on the nation's plate' such as defence spending.Matt Vickers, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, said: 'Our Armed Forces are crumbling, but Andy Burnham has decided his priority is taking pudding off the menu.'The only thing wobblier than Andy Burnham's defence policy is the jelly he's trying to ban.'It comes as all pupils in England from families on universal credit are now eligible for free school meals.Leading dietician Renee McGregor told the Daily Mail that she was supportive of free meals for children from lower socio-economic backgrounds who 'probably aren't getting the nutrients they require - and if they get one great school meal a day this can really help'.But she added: 'Where I worry is that children who are not used to eating these types of foods, like vegetables, beans and pulses - and how you go about encouraging them to try. It can be really hard work introducing new foods and there needs to be support in place for this to work.'The other concern is around children who have higher nutritional needs, especially developing teenagers, because they are physically very active. They shouldn't be eating junk food, but we need to consider if they going to get enough energy portion wise under this new strategy to meet their growing requirements.'On the whole, I welcome food being a better quality and more nutrient dense but there will always be concerns - and the worry is with all these public health guidelines it tends to be a blanket wide approach and the vulnerable groups get ignored.'The DfE will work with the Food Standards Agency on a plan to monitor schools, with details to follow in the coming months.A survey of more than 1,400 headteachers and senior leaders in primary and secondary state schools in England – conducted in September by Teacher Tapp on behalf of School Food Matters – found 68 per cent believe the standards would be more effective if compliance was independently checked.The standards will come into effect next September, with secondary schools given until September 2028 to make some of the changes.Around one in three children are leaving primary school overweight or obese, while tooth decay is the leading cause of hospital admissions for youngsters aged five to nine.Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: 'These are once-in-a-generation changes that will transform school food for children across the country.'From our historic expansion of free school meals to the rollout of free breakfast clubs and new school food standards, we are making sure that every child has access to the healthy meals we know children need to learn, grow and succeed.'No child should spend the school day hungry, and no family should have to struggle to put food on the table. This is what change looks like: healthier food, fuller stomachs and a fairer start for every child.'The changes are backed by chef Jamie Oliver and actress Dame Emma Thompson.Oliver said it is a 'brilliant day' after 25 years of campaigning.'Back 20-plus years ago when I started School Dinners I could not believe that we had standards for dog food but not what we serve our children at school,' he said. 'And I've never stopped banging that drum.'So it's brilliant to see new school food standards based on the latest science, to make sure the food children get at school is actually supporting their health and helping them thrive.'And that those standards won't just live on paper, but have proper monitoring to make sure they're followed, so we know where we need to deploy care, love and support.'Dame Emma, who campaigns for the Food Foundation charity, said: 'This is a milestone worth celebrating and an investment in a healthier future for the next generation.'