School catering services

Description

Founded in 1922, St Mary's has become a centre of excellence for the provision of education and life skills development for children with severe and complex Speech, Language and Communication disabilities. St Mary's takes day and residential children from age 7 through to 19 plus. Students attend the 6th form College from the age of 16. The School provides excellent facilities and specialist staff including experienced Teachers, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, an Audiologist, Educational Psychologist, Psychology Assistants, Teaching and Therapy Assistants and Care staff. The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of service within the existing facilities for the 22 day students and 36 residential students on roll and the 240 staff on site, support staff, all of whom have a focus on the introduction of exciting new food concepts to satisfy a wide range of tastes and dietary requirements. Additionally all day pupils are offered an enrichment evening when they stay for tea and 7 pupils extend this further and stay overnight one night a week. The School would wish the successful contractor to review the current range of services offered and make recommendations accordingly. The contract being tendered is for three years in duration from 1.9.2017 until 31.7.2020, with an option to further extend during the contract term and will operate as a Guaranteed Performance Contract, with the successful Contractor offering the School a guaranteed cost per annum for the provision of catering services. Sovereignty of the cash tariff is to remain with St Mary's School for the duration of this contract. The School year is based on a calendar of 39 weeks of which 5 days are to be used for staff professional development. The School are open to residential pupils every other weekend, but this is only taken up by 4 pupils at the moment, over 3 houses. The contract offered covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the School, which currently includes breakfast service, morning break, lunch, afternoon break, all hospitality and free issue requirements. Free Student meals and hospitality will be charged based on consumption and at net food cost. The School provide meals free of charge for staff who eat with the children at lunch time which amounts to approximately 20 meals per day. The School also provide meals for all residential staff on shift for evening meal and breakfast and approximately this amounts to 23 staff for breakfast (toast) and 29 staff for evening meal. The forecast for the current year cost of catering, from August 2016–July 2017 is approximately 272 500 GBP — although it is anticipated that this cost will reduce in line with the reduction in breakfast and dinner services to be provided. Whilst the School wish to discontinue these services, they would still require the facility to; order some/all food items; access quality assurance of meals being made by care staff on house; be provided with support and training of staff on house making meals if needed; obtain nutritional guidance and menu planning support for theses meals. Annual service and maintenance of kitchen appliances currently amounts to approximately 3 813 GBP and will be expected to be managed and funded by the successful contractor. Whilst the School prioritise value for money as a key objective of the competitive tender process, the Governing body is not obliged to accept the lowest price. St Mary's School expect the successful contractor to enable the continued development of catering through the provision of an innovative, healthy food service, with fresh, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients being prepared on-site. The School expects the successful tenderer to evidence, through their bid, how they shall support and complement its values and support the principles of Keeping Children Safe in Education. The School believes that success should be celebrated and that Students should enjoy their time at School; if lessons are stimulating and challenging then students will love learning. Much time therefore, is spent reviewing and planning schemes of work to ensure that they are differentiated to meet the needs of all Students. As a result, the School are very enthusiastic regarding work experience and apprenticeship proposals and would welcome the input of the successful Contractor.