Project scope
Overview
As part of Tower Hamlets programme to support the schools in their ability to deliver Free School Meals to all students in the borough we were contracted to assess what the Mayors programme of introducing Universal Free School Meals in secondary schools would have on the kitchens and dining areas.
Scope of work
- Comprehensive analysis of current uptake of paid and FSM meals
- Review of the sales mix
- Review of how complaint the schools were against the School Food Plan
- Review of the current equipment and future needs to support the programme
- Review of current and future staffing needs and associated costs
Output
- Comprehensive report detailing current statistics
- Predicted project costs for equipment
- Predicted costs for uptake levels
- Predicted costs for additional staffing
Site surveys - Kitchens
In order to provide accurate information, we conducted for the Project team, we conducted twenty (20) full day site surveys, gathering information on:
- Dining space, number of seats and capacity over the duration of the service periods
- Service times for Breakfast, morning break and lunch
- Service points – internal and external
- Speed of service (queuing times)
- Staffing
- Current uptake of Paid meals and FSM
- Kitchen equipment and opportunities to improve with predicted uptake rates
- Data collection on sales mix
- Menu compliance against the School Food Plan
- Site dilapidation (added value for clients)
Analysis
Comprehensive review of cashless catering systems across 20 schools
On completing the site surveys, all of the information was consolidated into a board report providing high level averages of the following:
- Sales mix
- Top 15 items
- Average compliance level against the School Food Plan
- FSM entitlement Vs FSM uptake in school
- Average FSM uptake across borough
- Overall uptake levels / % of roll
- Average FSM allowance per child
- An understanding of what the FSM allowance allows the student to purchase in each school
Recommendations
Following the analysis of uptake levels, service timings, capacity etc., we made recommendations on what needed to be done to allow the catering teams to...
On completing the site surveys all of the information was consolidated into a board report providing high level averages of the following:
- Sales mix
- Top 15 items
- Average compliance level against the School Food Plan
- FSM entitlement Vs FSM uptake in school
- Average FSM uptake across borough
- Overall uptake levels / % of roll
- Overall paid and FSM uptake levels of roll and potential increase school by school
- An understanding of what the FSM allowance allows the student to purchase in each school
Financial Modelling
- • The council needed to understand the financial implications of what this project would cost so as part of the board report we provided different cost models depending on varied uptakes and pricing structures.
- • We were also requested by the council to prepare cost models on the equipping of the kitchens based upon a phased approach allowing them to prepare budget suggestions for cabinet.
- • We prepared a board report for the council with the recommendations and cost models for them to discuss and understand the financial implications of the project.
- • In late June 2023, the project was agreed within council, and we were instructed to oversee the kitchen installations over the summer in readiness for go live in September 2023.