School catering services

Tender description

The successful tenderer will be required to provide catering services at Beaufort Primary and Derwent Community Schools. The catering contract being offered will commence on Monday, 31.10.2016 for an initial period of 3 years, concluding on Friday, 1.11.2019, and will be offered on a guaranteed performance basis, with a service on each of the 190 full academic days. Both schools are currently served by the same catering contractor. School dinners offer a nutritionally balanced menu and include a salad bar. The latest menu is on a 3-weekly cycle and includes a roast dinner twice a week. Children are offered milk every lunchtime. We have been awarded the Healthy Schools Award and participate in the Free Fruit for Schools Scheme. Children in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 are encouraged to have a piece of fruit each day. Other children may purchase a healthy snack at playtime or bring a piece of fruit or cereal bar to eat during playtime. All children have access to drinking water each day. Cold water dispensers are provided in school and bottles may be purchased from the office or brought in from home. The schools are located within 0,6 miles of each other. The successful contractor is expected to have a strong local presence, as specialist caterers in the Primary School sector. The contract covers the scope for the provision of catering services within the schools, which currently includes lunch, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free school meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption. Each school currently manages its own breakfast club and intends to continue to do so. Neither school has a morning break. The schools expect the successful contractor to enable the continued development of catering through the provision of an innovative, healthy food service, prepared on-site, in the well-designed and equipped kitchens. Both schools intend to focus heavily on healthy, fresh, seasonal, locally sourced produce and see the catering service as an exciting opportunity to complement the overall uptake, student and parent experience, through the regular introduction of new ingredients, themed and promotional events. The successful contractor will be required to play their part in acting as a catalyst for improvement of the pupil experience. The Senior Leadership Team and Governors have identified improved ‘Value for Money’ as a priority to parents and this is perceived as key to encourage an increased uptake of the overall catering service provided. The successful contractor will work closely with the schools to manage the provision of catering and the overall ‘meal experience’, with pupil education on making healthy dietary choices being an important part of their educational experience. The vision of Senior Leadership and Governors at both schools is that all children choose to eat and enjoy a healthy school dinner with 100 % uptake of free school meals. Good quality and varied menu options plus value for money are perceived as key to encourage an increased uptake of the overall catering service provided. The successful contractor will work closely with the schools to manage the provision of catering and the overall ‘meal experience’, with pupil education on making healthy dietary choices being an important part of their educational.