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Dear Parents and Carers,

Exciting Changes to School Catering Provision from September 2026

We are pleased to announce that, from 1^st September, our school's catering service will move from an external catering provider to a fully in-house catering operation.

This is an important step for our Trust and reflects our commitment to providing the highest possible standard of food for our families. By bringing the catering service in-house, we will have greater control over menu planning, ingredient selection, food preparation, and overall service quality. This will allow us to be more responsive to the needs and preferences of our school community while ensuring that meals remain nutritious, appetising, and good value for money.

The decision has been driven by our desire to:

• Improve the overall quality and variety of meals.
• Increase our focus on fresh, nutritious ingredients.
• Enhance the dining experience for all students.
• Respond more effectively to student feedback and dietary requirements.
• Maintain the highest standards of food safety, nutrition, and service.

Looking ahead, this change also positions the school strongly in preparation for the new food standards expected to come into effect in September 2027. By managing catering directly, we can begin implementing improvements now, ensuring that we are fully prepared to meet and exceed future requirements. Our aim is not simply to comply with new standards but to establish a dining offer that promotes healthy eating habits, supports learning and wellbeing, and reflects the expectations of our school community.

Over the coming months, we will be investing in our catering teams, reviewing menus, and seeking feedback from students and parents to help shape the service. We are excited about the opportunities this brings; our aim is that this will result in a better dining experience for everyone. Our new menu’s will be uploaded to the school website over the summer.

We would like to thank PS Catering for their service and support over the years and look forward to this new chapter for our school catering offering.

If you have any questions regarding the transition, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Elsey
Estates Manager
Ascend Learning Trust