Crestwood School in Kingswinford has introduced a new 'package deal' and removed certain items from sale after concerns were raised about the cost of pupils' meals. The school, part of the Invictus Education Trust which owns eight schools in the area, switched to a new catering provider at the start of this term, following Department for Education guidance.
Since the change, parents and a local councillor have spoken out about inflated prices, revealing some items had even doubled in price. Councillor Steve Edwards said: "The £5 daily limit is being taken up only by a snack of a sausage roll and a drink, so many are going without dinner."
Free school meal budget concerns
The councillor also highlighted the impact on free school meals: "The free school meal budget is only £2.75 which gets them a small meal." He added: "Parents are having to send packed lunches as well as money to ensure children have a decent meal."
Crestwood's headteacher, Phil Sutton, has now responded, explaining how and why this has happened, and the measures the trust and its catering provider, Dolce, have taken to resolve the issue.
New catering provider following DfE guidance
Mr Sutton said: "Over recent years, the Department for Education has said that families of schools should have one catering provider. This provider should come from a list of companies that have been selected to form part of a national framework."
He added: "In response, the Trust now has a new catering provider, Dolce, who started serving our young people at the start of this term. The issue of cost is something that we are working hard to address with Dolce."
Meal deals and free water introduced
The headteacher acknowledged that while some meal deals cost less than £3, other items were more expensive than expected. He said: "While there are meal deals for less than £3, which consist of a main and a drink or a dessert, some of the items that sit outside of this deal cost more than was expected."
After discussions, Dolce will introduce a new package deal where a student can get a small roll, a snack pot, a bakery item and a drink for the same price. Mr Sutton also confirmed: "Fruit infused water will now be provided free of charge."
Higher-priced items removed
The trust has asked that higher-priced items be removed from sale and is in discussions to lower the cost of other products. Mr Sutton said: "Our students will, therefore, have a range of options open to them for a similar price if they opt for a meal deal package."
The headteacher also acknowledged the issue with transferring money some students had stored on the old system to the new one. He said: "Dolce is working tirelessly to make sure these balances are available at the earliest opportunity."
