School food experiences in alternative education settings: research and policy brief

Abstract

Special schools and alternative provision settings require intensive and highly individualised approaches to school food. This is due to the requirement to 1) meet the varied and specific feeding needs of pupils, with a focus on prioritising children’s safety; and 2) provide foods that their pupils find familiar and appealing, to ensure inclusivity for those on restrictive diets. This creates specific challenges for these schools in implementing the school food standards and school feeding programmes.