Wokingham

Healthy, tasty and balanced food to get schoolchildren’s taste buds tingling will now be on the menu as Wokingham District Council today (May 9) announces the successful contractor to provide school meals in the district’s schools.

After an extremely competitive tender and detailed evaluation as well as a district-wide consultation with schools, parents and children on what type of school meal they would like to see, Wokingham District Council’s school meal catering contract has been awarded to Edwards & Ward based in Tunbridge Wells. This process was been successfully managed in a market environment where many other councils nationally are having problems appointing a successful contractor. The contract will start on August 1, 2006, and will be in place to provide school meals for the district’s pupils from September.

Working in partnership with Wokingham District Council, Edwards & Ward will continue to improve the school meal menu in consultation with schools, parents and pupils.

Cllr Rob Stanton, executive member for Wokingham procurement, human resources and environment services, said: “Edwards & Ward will bring innovative ideas to improve the school meal service, ensuring pupils receive a fresh, healthy, nutritionally balanced meal with a daily choice of hot or cold food. The district’s pupils demand a high standard and the council will ensure that it provides a much-enhanced level of quality to our school meals.

“Our menus already meet and exceed the Caroline Walker Trust guidelines. These core guidelines are adhered to by all local authorities, which provide nutrient-based standards for school food. Wokingham District Council is committed to ensuring continued ongoing quality improvements.

“The council will deliver a flexible customer-focused school meal service to ensure all of our pupils can enjoy their midday lunch break.”

Unfortunately, due to increase levels of quality, the central government grant ceasing and the cost implications of fresh ingredients in line with government standards, the price of a meal will increase. Part of the cost of a new menu will be funded by Wokingham District Council who are committed to providing healthy meals made from fresh ingredients as well as keeping the cost to parents at a minimum. The cost to parents will be £1.60 for primary school meals and £1.80 for secondary school meals.

Wokingham council will subsidise the school meals contract through the direct support grant, which will equate to £67,000 in 2006/07, rising to £100,000 in subsequent years.

Michael Edwards of Edwards & Ward, said: “We will deliver the personalised service that many clients wish for but often believe they can’t afford, bigger isn’t necessarily better or cheaper.”

Wokingham District Council