Education and learning

News - What are we doing in the central contract

Cashless Systems

A number of primary schools in the central contract have a cashless system for the processing of dinner monies. Parents can add money to their child's account through a revaluation terminal when bringing or collecting their child from school. When the child has a school lunch the value is then debited from the account. This also helps to promote anonymity for children receiving free school meals. Special dietary requirements can also be noted on the system. In the future, parents will be able to receive a print out or e-mail identifying what their child selected for their lunch. 

ParentPay

In Schools where ParentPay is operating parents are able to use credit or debit cards to pay for a range of services which include school meals. Parents can log into their own secure account pages where they can see an up-to-date list of items available to their child, together with details of costs and dates. Parents can then choose which items to pay electronically with the transaction conducted through a highly secure payment server. A future development will mean that parents will be able to make their payments at pay point shops.

Salad Bars

We have successfully introduced salad bars into many schools. The most successful ones are when they are placed in the dining room and pupils are encouraged to help themselves. Some excellent results have been achieved. This initiative promotes the consumption of fruit and vegetables.

Cooking Equipment

The council operates an on-going refurbishment programme. To enable the production of freshly produced meals kitchens have been updated to benefit from modern cooking equipment. This ensures that healthy cooking methods may be employed using a wide range of products and ingredients. Healthier cooking methods such as oven baking and steaming are encouraged.

Dining Room Furniture

The food in schools programme recognises the role that the dining room environment plays in children's enjoyment of a school lunch. An on-going programme of refurbishment is in operation. Many schools have now benefited from new dining room furniture. Further developments in some schools have seen the replacement of meal trays and the introduction of tablecloths.

Mealscene

A new website Mealscene supporting healthy eating is available for schools in the central contract to view. By entering England, Croydon and then the appropriate school, information including the weekly menu and some analysis can be seen. Further information about the menu can be obtained by clicking on the information and links section. Mealscene also has separate sections for children and parents to further support healthy eating.

Contact Details

Contact name

School Catering Service

Telephone

020 8760 5467

Email

allyson.lloyd@croydon.gov.uk

Address

London Borough of Croydon
Taberner House
Croydon
CR9 1TP

Contact name

Initial Catering Services Ltd

Telephone

020 8648 4533

Fax

020 8648 0102

Email

croydon@initial-catering.co.uk

Address

Unit AO
Mill Green Business Park
Mill Green Road
Mitcham
CR4 4HT

Website

www.coolmeals.co.uk