The British Nutrition Foundation has launched a professional development programme for primary teachers, trainees and teaching assistants across the UK.

Teaching Primary Food and Nutrition (TPFN) is designed to provide teachers and support staff with the necessary knowledge and skills required for teaching high quality food and nutrition lessons, and to inspire them to champion a whole school approach towards food.

A two-year continuing professional development (CPD) programme, TPFN is free for primary schools educating pupils in food and nutrition across the UK.

Whether the participants are new or experienced teachers, TPFN aims to build and strengthen their confidence and competence in teaching food and nutrition to their pupils. It will formally support their professional learning around teaching in the classroom and support a whole school approach.

While teaching food and nutrition may take-up a relatively small part of the curriculum, it does have some unique management issues and the programme offers support with teaching approaches, for example, managing and teaching practical cooking classes.

Sara Stanner, science director at the British Nutrition Foundation, said: "At the British Nutrition Foundation, we passionately believe that food education is an essential life skill for all. Whether you are a new teacher who is just starting their teaching journey or have been working with pupils for some time now, our Teaching Primary Food and Nutrition programme has something to offer to everyone, as learning and refreshing skills should never stop!

"We are excited to work with the All Saints Educational Trust again and hope this programme will offer support to our hard working primary teachers and TAs, wherever they are in the UK."

Through this programme, the British Nutrition Foundation aims to train at least 2,000 teachers and support their professional development.

The first 1,500 teachers to register for the programme will receive a free professional portfolio for them to gather everything needed to plan, implement and evidence their learning journey.