Food Hygiene in Education Course

Food Hygiene in Education – Online Course

Course overview
This online course covers the food-safety knowledge needed to prepare, handle, store and serve food safely in educational settings such as schools, nurseries, colleges and academies. It helps learners control contamination, allergen and hygiene risks, and also covers healthy eating, hydration and balanced menus. The course takes one hour and is CPD accredited.

Please note: This course builds food hygiene knowledge for education settings. It does not replace any practical, role-specific or regulated training an employer may require, or a setting’s own food safety procedures.

What the course covers
– Best practices when working with food, including hand washing
– Cross-contamination
– Food storage and preparation, date codes and maintenance
– Food allergies, common allergens and managing an allergic reaction
– Physical and chemical contamination
– Pest control
– Cleaning, including high priority cleaning, cleaning schedules, cloths and dishwashers
– Chilling foods, chilling down hot food, defrosting and freezing
– Cooking, including properly cooked foods, foods requiring extra care and reheating
– Eating at school, balanced menus and the importance of a varied menu
– Good hydration, daily fluid intake and encouraging good habits

Who is it for?
The course is suitable for anyone who prepares, handles, serves or supervises food in education settings in the UK. It is appropriate for:
– School cooks, catering staff and kitchen assistants
– Catering managers and managers responsible for food safety
– Lunchtime supervisors
– Nursery practitioners and childminders
– Teaching staff involved in food activities
– Breakfast and after-school club staff
– Education leaders overseeing catering services
– Volunteers

Practical benefits
– Understand food hygiene requirements within education settings
– Reduce the risk of foodborne illness and contamination
– Learn safe food handling, preparation and storage techniques
– Improve allergen awareness and know how to respond to a reaction
– Support compliance with UK food safety legislation
– Promote healthier eating habits and hydration for children
– Receive a CPD-accredited certificate for professional development

What learners will be able to do
– Explain key principles of food safety and hygiene
– Recognise biological, chemical, physical and allergen hazards
– Prevent cross-contamination through safer working practices
– Understand appropriate personal-hygiene standards
– Apply safe storage and temperature-control principles
– Understand cleaning and disinfection requirements
– Recognise the importance of accurate allergen information
– Respond appropriately to food-safety concerns or incidents

Is this training a legal requirement?
No law requires learners to complete this specific course. However, UK food businesses, including school and academy catering services, must comply with food hygiene legislation, and employers are legally required to ensure that food handlers receive supervision, instruction and training appropriate to their job responsibilities. Providing suitable food hygiene training helps education providers meet their obligations under the Food Safety Act 1990 and the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006. There is no fixed legal renewal period, but many education providers refresh food hygiene training every three years, or sooner if legislation, procedures or job responsibilities change.

Assessment and certificate
Learners complete an online multiple-choice test. After successfully completing the assessment, they can download a CPD-accredited digital certificate straight away. The course is delivered online with instant access, so it can be studied on a phone, tablet or computer at the learner’s own pace.