Kingfisher Learning Trust ~ Catering Tender

The contract covers the scope for the provision of all catering services within the schools, which includes all hospitality and free issue requirements.

Kingfisher Special School

Halcyon Way School

Medlock Valley Primary School

Littlemoor Primary School

Blackshaw Lane Primary & Nursery School

Cromwell High School

The duration of the contract being offered is three years commencing on 1st April 2025 and concluding on 31st March 2028 and will be on a guaranteed performance basis offering a fixed annual return and or subsidy to the Trust. There will be the option to extend the contract for a further term excluding the right to further extend for a further term of three years.

It is expected that the successful contractor will have experience in the requirements of the Healthy Eating in Schools (Nutritional Standards & Requirements) for both Primary and Secondary pupils. The Trust would like to work with a partner who has previous experience of catering within SEN establishments.

The tender project is seeking to appoint a Contractor whose initiative and innovation will be welcomed for the provision of all catering services within the schools. The high-quality service levels proposed, should maintain excellent standards throughout, resulting in a new food service offer with consistent high standards of food operations within the school.

Regular customer and parental engagement will be required to ensure this is the case moving into the contract term.

These new standards of operation should meet the needs of the pupils’ moving forwards into this contract term. The current range of foods needs to be expanded along with the service provision. It is one of the objectives of this tender that the successful contractor will utilise the local supply chain and farming” belt” in Greater Manchester to source all fresh produce, namely being:

Bakery Products

Meat

Fruit and Vegetables

Dairy Products

As you can appreciate, working with the local community is something that the school strives to do at all times and to this end we would like to ensure that all your fresh produce is sourced from local suppliers (within a 20-mile radius of the Trust locations):

The Kingfisher Learning Trust also seeks to ensure that the catering operation will have the following objectives from 1st April 2025:

1.The provision of a healthy balanced menu that meets nutritional guidelines and is enjoyed by our students.

2.A focus on dietary requirements to ensure that all pupils can have access to a healthy and tasty meal.

3.Better value for money to be provided ensuring that the students are consistently provided with a quality meal with reasonable portion sizes.

4.Offer of a variety of food options suitable for ages ranging from 3 – 18 and pupils with specific dietary requirements.

5.A series of theme days are organised and run throughout the year with an exciting and robust marketing plan.

6.The successful contractor’s management team show a real interest in the schools and its students moving into this contract term.

7.A clear plan working alongside the school for reaching net zero carbon emissions.

8.Clear and transparent accounting.

The successful contractor is expected to maximise the use of all catering facilities through the adoption and employment of effective marketing policies and techniques. It will be the responsibility of the Contractor to develop specific marketing proposals to encourage a healthy approach to eating.

The terms and conditions of employment and recognition offered to the catering team should be both progressive and forward thinking ensuring that the staffing establishment is complete at all times and staff turnover is kept to a minimum.

The Multi Academy Trust is expected to grow in the number of schools becoming part of the trust during this contract period.

Please see SQ document for more information Additional information: Please note, this is a Contract Award Notice, this contract has already been awarded..