The act gave local authorities greater autonomy, and had a large effect on the lives of children.

[1] In mid-February 1980, the Bill was in the Report Stage, and passing through the House of Lords in late February 1980, and the Committee Stage in the second week of March 1980.

[3] The act abandoned the compulsion of proper meals being served in education.

The NAHT believed that children being allowed to bring in snack food for lunchtime, instead of being given appropriate meals, would be unsuitable for their health.

[4] The NAHT threatened that its headteachers could ban snack food.