Guidance on Procuring School Meals
Following consultation, the final version of the Department's guidance on procuring school meals is now available.
- See the guidance on procuring school meals. This area of TeacherNet provides a summary of its main points.
Introduction
The Secretary of State has set a priority to improve school meals by helping schools to access a better service. The guide School Meals Procurement (which you can download from link higher up on this screen) sets out some of the key issues that governors and head teachers will need to consider in reviewing their current meals service and deciding where to go next. It looks at options available to schools, including contracting the service out to a different provider, improving the service provided by the existing contractor or bringing the service in-house, and managing it entirely within the school.
Many school meals services have acquired a reputation for being unhealthy. For a long time, the emphasis in some catering services has been on cost-saving and on responding to children's choices rather than providing healthy food options. Unfortunately, the answer does not simply lie in ensuring that healthier food is made available. Children, particularly in secondary schools, have a choice about what they eat and will often choose less healthy food, or indeed eat elsewhere, if they do not want what is offered.
To change behaviour, a broad package is needed which includes education about food and health, not just for children but for parents and society generally. It can involve a more balanced food offer as part of a whole-school approach, including a better dining experience.
This section is set out as follows:
- The evidence for change
- Current Government initiatives
- Nutritional standards and guidance
- Setting the direction — a whole-school food policy
- Evaluating the options for meals procurement
- Seeking advice
- Cost and budget considerations
- Encouraging school meals take-up by pupils
- Other practical aspects to consider
We also provide case studies of schools and councils that have been successful in making changes to improve school meal provision.
Schools which are having problems with providing a service can contact the School Food Trust's helpline on 0800 089 5001 or email the Trust at: helpline@schoolfoodtrust.org.uk
Guidance on variation of school catering procurement contracts
The Department has also published guidance to schools
on how best to procure healthier food and re-negotiate, or in extreme
cases, end contracts with firms that cannot or will not provide healthier
food. This contract variation guidance sets out how you can carry out a
review of your current contract, including how you can decide whether you are
getting value for money and what your options are if you decide that you want
to make a change.
OPEN — Online Procurement for Education Needs
OPEN is a new electronic purchasing system that allows schools the opportunity to get the right contract at the price that's right for them. It will allow users to access easily and securely their local contracts and eCatalogues for goods and services, as well as provide them access to regional and national contracts that offer increased value for money. For more information, visit the DCSF OPEN webpage.
