The Department for Education has amended a new initiative calling on schools to mix meat and dairy at lunchtime, following complaints from the Board of Deputies.

Earlier this month, new regulations came into force across all local authority and free schools, aimed at providing healthier school meals. Among these was the stipulation that a portion of milk be made available at least once a day, with an emphasis on providing meat and dairy together at every lunchtime.

But after meeting the Board, who voiced the concern this new ruling had caused among Jewish schools, the department agreed to back down.

“We have managed to persuade the department that a provision of milk in the morning to those children who wanted it would meet the required standard,” said Sara Perlmutter, education policy manager at the Board.

During their meeting, which was also attended by Ofsted officials and Jeffrey Leader, head of the Board’s inspection service Pikuach, concern was also raised over Ofsted’s treatment of Jewish studies lessons.

Schools have complained that non-Jewish inspectors could not properly assess the value of Kodesh lessons.

“In order to gain an overall picture of a Jewish school, Ofsted inspectors can now visit Jewish studies classes but cannot comment on the quality of teaching in these lessons,” Mr Leader said.