Go learn about us

We've been doing this since 1998, and we still love every minute!

We like to think we've learned a thing or two about great food and excellent service over the years, but the best thing is, we're still learning! Whether we are experimenting with alternative recipes, looking for new ways to reduce our waste or welcoming a new supplier into the fold - we are passionate about this business. We strive to keep great customer service at the heart of everything we do.

We pride ourselves on being a family owned company, that sources local produce and employs local people. We are determined that all children should enjoy the benefits of good school food and become healthy, happy adults. Our mission is to put healthy school food at the heart of every school and to spread health and well-being messages as widely as possible.

Ahead of the game

We are focused on providing high quality food prepared from fresh, local ingredients, cooked as close to the dinner bell as possible. We endorse the use of fresh herbs, home baking and as much seasonal produce as possible. Our fresh produce supply chain ensures we get produce from local farms. We source seasonal food and support British farming. We are using less energy by focusing on seasonal foods, keeping food miles down, collecting from our local producer and delivering to you on fixed days. We keep waste down by sending you minimum packaging, collecting it for reuse, using reusable crates from our farms, giving away and composting leftovers. We recycle everything else. All our recipes and menus are also analysed for nutrient content to enable us to reduce fat and salt content.

We work with over a number of British farmers, bakers and producers. We believe that working closely with our producers benefits everyone - they get more security, and more time to focus on the food. We plan crops and often agree prices in advance with our growers. It is this approach that has kept us ahead of the game.

From the farm to the fork

We believe every part of our service from the farm to the fork is key to providing the service and meals our clients deserve to support the health, well-being and development of our children. We help to improve performance through our support for schools and provide value for money.

Whilst every education sector caterer must comply with the nutritional standards we look to go above and beyond. We provide school food solutions that will improve the dining experience for children, considering health and providing more choice while continuing to raise the quality above current standards. We never forget that meal times should be fun, enjoyable and exciting.

Food leadership and school food culture

• We monitor school meal take up and we are taking action to maximise the take up of free school meals.
• We consult with our pupils and parents on school meal improvements.
• We keep parents informed of lunch menus and Food for Life Partnership activity and invite them to attend our school lunches.
• We encourage our pupils to suggest improvements to the dining experience and we implement the best ideas.

Food quality and provenance

• Food on our menu does not contain any undesirable additives or hydrogenated fats.
• We make sure that at least 95% of dishes on our menu are freshly prepared.
• We use meat that is farm assured as a welfare minimum. We use eggs from cage-free hens.
• Our menus are seasonal and we highlight in-season produce.
• Our menus cater well for all dietary needs in the school population.
• Continuous professional development is available to our catering staff, including training in fresh food preparation.

Food education

• Our pupils have the opportunity to take part in cooking activities, and this is linked to wider learning. 
• Our pupils have the opportunity to grow and harvest food and make compost, and this is linked to wider learning.

Community and partnerships

• We hold an annual event on a food theme for our pupils, parents and the wider community.
• We make efforts to actively engage parents and/or the wider community in our growing and cooking activities.
• We share learning with local schools, the wider community and other partners.

Training

All of our managers have been trained on diet and nutrition and will continue to take further courses to refresh and increase their knowledge on this important subject. Added to this we have our own in house training for Food Hygiene, Health and Safety and HACCP, ensuring our staff are equipped to provide the best service possible.

Food For Life Bronze Award

The bronze award is awarded to schools serving seasonal school meals that are at least 75% freshly prepared by a well-trained school cook. Pupils and parents are involved in planning improvements to school menus and the dining experience via a school nutrition action group, boosting school meal take-up. Every pupil has the opportunity to visit a farm during his or her time at school, and opportunities are given for cooking and food growing activity.

Quality control accreditation to ISO9001 standard

Class Catering have attained quality control accreditation to ISO9001 standard. It applies to all of the sites we service covering catering for the educational sector and general public, it covers all aspects of our food preparation and meal production, ensuring our standards are applied and customers receive a quality service.

 

 

 

 

Go find out more

http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/

http://www.nhs.uk/change4life/Pages/change-for-life.aspx

http://www.cwt.org.uk/

http://www.soilassociation.org/

http://www.food.gov.uk/

http://www.foodinschools.org/