The Importance of Food Safety and Hygiene Training for School & Academy Catering Staff
Just like a restaurant or café, schools are legally required to ensure staff are adequately trained to produce and serve food that is safe.
Schools will be amongst the biggest food producers in your area, with some schools serving food to in excess of 1,500 pupils every day. In terms of number of meals served, that will easily outstrip local restaurants or cafés. With that in mind, the number of pupils at risk from poor processes and practice in school kitchens is significant.
The potential health impact of a lack of food safety and hygiene training
Factoring in the age of pupils, which may include very young pupils who are at a higher risk of illness, the importance of taking food safety and hygiene seriously in school and academy settings cannot be understated. If food handlers are not adequately trained, ignorance could well result in poor practice leading to illness caused by food poisoning and even death of a pupil.
The potential educational impact of a lack of food safety and hygiene training
Illness caused by food poisoning organisms will result in pupils missing school days. Whole classes may also miss out should a teacher or multiple teachers fall ill after consuming contaminated food served at school.
What level of training would school catering staff require?
All staff involved with the preparation or service of food are required to complete training according to their role. Role is an important factor in deciding on the level of training required. For example, it's not acceptable to train a service staff member to Level 1 and then require them to be involved in the preparation of food. Without key knowledge delivered at Level 2 they may unwittingly make a decision that ultimately results in a food poisoning case, or worse, an outbreak with many cases.
Level 1 food safety and hygiene training
Level 1 Food Safety and Hygiene Training is for staff that serve food, undertake duties such as washing-up and cleaning, and that occasionally handle food. It is also suitable for teachers and teaching assistants running breakfast clubs or after school clubs providing low-risk snacks.
Level 2 food safety and hygiene training
Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene Training is for canteen/kitchen staff and any other staff handling open food in the school and academy setting.
Both courses provide a robust and highly effective way to ensure staff are trained to required legislative standards, providing evidence of training on Local Authority inspection.
What does food safety and hygiene training cover?
Staff that have completed training will have gained knowledge in the following topic areas:
- The Law around Food Safety and Hygiene
- Micro-organisms
- Cross-contamination
- Cleaning and Disinfection
- Hygiene
- Hygienic process controls
- Food Safety Management
Conclusion
Food Safety and Hygiene training must be taken very seriously in school and academy settings. To ensure you can satisfy your duty of care requirement to your staff and pupils, and to comply with legislative requirements, make sure all your catering staff are trained and are practising what they have learned.
SSS Learning Level 1 and Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene courses are now used in thousands of schools and academies across the UK helping to train staff and protect pupils from the perils of poor practice.
Jonathan Case
BSc (Hons) Env Health
