Free online nutrition course for primary school teachers

Teaching food in primary: the why, what and how

A FREE online course to support food and nutrition teaching in primary schools.

Developed by the British Nutrition Foundation, Teaching food in primary: the what, why and how is designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to help primary school teachers and trainees plan and deliver high quality food, nutrition and cooking lessons to primary aged pupils. The course has been specifically created for initial and practising primary school teachers. It is based on the requirements of the National Curriculum (England), the government's Core competences for children and young people aged 5 to 16 years and a guidance document from PHE/DfE to support primary teachers delivering food in schools entitled, Food in primary schools: a framework of knowledge and skills.

The course comprises eight modules, including an overview of whole school food issues, planning for food in the curriculum, how to teach practical food lessons safely and key information on healthy eating and food origins.

The modules are:

1. Food in schools: Introducing the online training approach and key documents which support food teaching in school.
2. Food origins: Exploring where food comes from and some of the processes involved in producing food.
3. Healthy eating: Exploring the Eatwell Guide, its food groups, key messages and application.
4. Nutrition: Introducing energy, nutrients, fibre and water and the differing nutritional requirements throughout life.
5. Applied nutrition: Using nutrition knowledge to plan and prepare meals that contribute to a healthy varied diet.
6. Food safety: Considering and managing food safety and hygiene in the classroom.
7. Cooking: Managing and preparing the classroom, resources and pupils for safe and purposeful, practical food lessons.
8. Teaching: Planning a progressive, whole school approach to food.

After each module there is a short test and after the final module there is an assessment. On successful completion of the assessment, a personalised British Nutrition Foundation certificate is awarded.  We expect the course to take around 7 hours to complete. There is no time limit to complete the course and users can start and return to the course as needed, it is hoped that this will make completing the course as manageable and convenient as possible.

There are separate courses for England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales ensuring the course is specific to your region. The course will also available in Welsh.

If you are a UK primary trainee or practising teacher and would like to register for your FREE course code, click here.   If you work with or know of a primary or trainee primary teacher please let them know about the course.