Across the borough school kitchens have been serving up a treat.Top of the menu at this time of the year has been the traditional Christmas dinner – turkey, roast potatoes, stuffing, carrots and brussel sprouts, the works.

The Mayor of Havering, Councillor Trevor McKeever, was guest of honour at Drapers’ Maylands Primary School in Harold Hill where he dined with children as they enjoyed the festive fare.

The school is one of 62 across Havering serving up more than 12,000 school meals per day and a whopping two million meals each year.

Drapers’ Maylands is also in the unique position of having a zero packed-lunch policy, which ensures that all children dine together and have the opportunity for a hot, healthy meal each day.

The Mayor said:

“I was very impressed with both the school and the children, and it was a real pleasure to share Christmas dinner with them.

“School meals have changed over the years and one of the key things is the variety. HES Catering have worked with schools to ensure that the meals are both nutritional and affordable, which is so important when people are concerned about the cost of living.”

The menus are created by Havering Education Services catering team, which is run by the Council, and provides menus on a three-weekly cycle to ensure children have a nutritious meal each day and don’t get bored with repeatedly eating the same food.

For the past four years, the food has been audited by once a year the Soil Association and meets the Food for Life Silver Standard – with 75% of the food home cooked and a minimum 5% of our ingredient spend is on organic produce,

The service hopes that more schools will opt for school dinners.

Principal Trudy Spillane, said:

“By eating together the children are benefitting in lots of different ways. They are not only strengthening their social skills and their relationships with each other, but they are also having a nutritional two-course meal that a packed lunch would prove difficult to beat not just on cost but also in convenience and variety.”

School meal take-up has increased in Havering including the number of children taking advantage of free school meals.

The Mayor added:

“There used to be a bit of stigma around free school meals but schools now operate in a way that makes it easier for children to apply and no one would know who is on free meals and who isn’t.”

Parents can find out if they are eligible for free meals here:

https://www.havering.gov.uk/info/20006/schools_and_education/431/school_support

Our challenge

The school decided that all pupils having packed lunches from home adopted the school philosophy of healthy eating. A Ban was put on Chocolate products, Sugary Drinks, Crisps etc. We were involved in assisting the school to ensure our Menu cycle complied with this, following parent criticism of our use of sausages, Pizza, Burgers, and Chips

What we did

Working in partnership with the school, we reviewed our offer, and reviewed the Dessert offer, reducing the amount of cakes, puddings and introducing more Fresh Fruit, Jellies, and Yoghurts. Parents were convinced that items were unhealthy; we took action to ensure full details were given to all Parents. This was done by use of all recipes being posted on the School website showing the “hidden ingredients” in our pizza bases and sauces, The use of organic semi skimmed milk. Organic Beef and Pork, in burgers/sausages and dishes were baked, not fried. Removal of fried potatoes (once a week) and use of oven baked.

A workshop was held for all infant classes, showing them the benefits of 5 a day, and eating healthily to be able to perform to their best at school. We also ran a “Ready Steady Cook” event for the junior years; This was interactive with 2 Head Chefs (Teacher Volunteers) and a team of 4 commis Chefs (pupils). Menus were designed and cooked and a team of volunteers were then tasked to choose the best dish.

The children were taught about the importance of healthy eating and best cooking methods along the way.

The outcome

Pupils, parents and school staff are happy with the changes. Meal numbers have increased by 25% over the last 4 months. Service times have been constant, despite increased numbers.

 

Exciting times are here at Harold Wood Primary School! We have been involved in a three year expansion programme which has included a state of the art kitchen, which has tripled in size, to ensure that we get the best possible facilities to serve our children their school dinner, which is such an important part of the day.

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it.

We have always worked closely with Havering Catering Services and are proud to have a fantastic team of catering staff to ensure that our children get the best possible service.

This is what the children have got to say about Liz and her team regarding school dinners:

“We have a very caring cook who lets us try new things before we eat our meal”

“If we are not sure we like something we always get the chance to taste it so we can enjoy what we like”

“School dinners are delicious!”

“Quote or testimonial from the head teacher. Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it.

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it.”