School leavers disco dessert/buffet ideas

[PickleJelly]

Hi Mumsnet,

I am a parent to Yr 6child at a local small village school. Every year, the school do a leavers disco on the last day of school (1hr) and then the parents(and chair of governors - vicar at church) arrange a follow disco at the church hall (across the road from the school) for a further 1.5hr-2hr.

We are looking to do the same this year and I would like some input from you all regarding the food for the parents organised event at the church hall.

The school do savoury food for the children, this tends to be a bit of a buffet with pizza, wedges, nuggets, crisps etc Then the parents do the dessert side of things at the parents organised event.

We have approximately 40 children. I have been put in charge of food 😭. I was thinking:
Donuts (Asda/Sainsbury's do the trays of 12)
Different cookies (5 for a £1 at Asda/Sainsbury's/Tesco)
Strawberry, brownie and marshmallow cups, with choice of sauce and whipped cream.
Large cake (probably Costco large pre-order cake, or supermarket similar)
Pick n Mix cups
Bags of Crisps and bread sticks, TUC biscuits.
Popcorn machine and seasoning station.

A few questions from me: 1. Do you think that is enough of a variety? 2. Is there anything else you can think of that would be quick and easy to prepare for a large-ish group of children? 3. Do you think I need to add in more savoury items even though the school is covering that of at their event? 4. Do I need to provide one of each item for every child?

The budget is around £160 for food ( I am happy to add extra if needed) The church have said they have paper plates, napkins, forks etc (drinks will be organised separately by different parent).
Any platters, dishes, cake stands etc can be sourced from the parents. So the budget is purely for the food.

Grateful for your support.

Thank you.

Chocolate fountains with fruit kebabs
Cake pops
Decorate your own cake/ biscuit.
Watermelon slices
ice pops/ ice lollies if there’s a freezer at church.
Traybake cakes

Just ideas not suggesting all

Get an ice cream van to come instead.

I’m with @24Dogcuddler on the chocolate fountain

It’s a special occasion and a lot of kids won’t have ever had that.
for the fountain sliced up chunks of fruit. Bananas are great
but also brownies

Asda may have stopped doing the donuts.

I agree chocolate fountain, forget marshmallows though as a massive chocking hazard and with loads of excited kids not a good idea.

The Costco cakes are £17, you order online if you want a personal message

Small cupcakes though tray bakes work out very cheaply but people, have to be happy to make them. I made one for a party yesterday, a school cake. Made 20 portions it was between £3.50 to £4. Asda had trays of cupcakes for about £8, there were 12 in a tray. I catered for my birthday buffet recently, was 35 people but only 5 were little kids. Most ooh haven’t seen one for ages I love it item was the cheese and pineapple hedgehog. I did a gorgeous charcuterie board with fresh herbs but no it was good old covered in foil hedgehog that stole the show.

I like the idea of pick and mix cups for a kids party.

I would add biscuits, party rings and chocolate fingers.

I have been involved with a lot of catering as a volunteer, how many people will be assisting with the desserts? Think of the mess element as kids.

If its during the heatwave & you have freezer space, ice cream / ice lollies?

Watermelon / Mellons, jelly pots with fruit in with squirty cream or ice cream. Fairy cakes with wings, chocolate fountain / strawberries / chocolate brownies. Biscuit platter with custard creams, pink wafers & party rings. I would make most of it rather than have everything bought unless allergy issues. Cake from Costco a good call. Your list is fine but lacks fruit. My kids are grown up now but they all loved fruit like watermelon at parties. We used to have big parties with about 30 people before Covid. I miss those.

That sounds like a great idea, DC will love it and £4 each should buy them a 99 with sprinkles, sauce etc I'd have thought.

Far better than the supermarket donuts, cookies and Costco cake - your budget is £4 each, so no need to get the cheap supermarket stuff, you can afford a better treat than that.

Thanks all, ah I love Mumsnet! There are some fantastic suggestions. I do absolutely love the idea of the chocolate fountain... But do you think that will be horrendously messy?
I will definitely add more fruit. Watermelon is a great idea.
We have around 10 parents to help. Although a lot of the parents of the 40 children will no doubt stick around and be willing help out.

The ice cream truck is a lovely idea! However the school has arranged that for their gift to school leavers after their Year 6 sports day. (They are being really spoilt 🥰).

Also we do have freezer space so the freeze pops/ice lollies are a great idea too!

Is it just the kids eating or parents also? A chocolate fountains WOULD be very messy, get on their nice clothes and possibly in hair!

Fruit skewers? Could add a marshmallow in there too or add say strawberries which have been dipped in melted chocolate but let to set. www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/rainbow-fruit-skewers

DS has just had prom. I personally think that's A LOT of food for the kids.
Ours has pizza, crisps and sausages rolls.
Of two Costco cakes, barely a quarter of one was eaten (65 children). They did have an ice-cream van.
Slushies went down well.
Who is providing the drinks?

I doubt the kids would worry about the mess and it’s their day .

I doubt any will walk into it like Geraldine Granger in the vicar if Dibley 😁

We had a chocolate fountain at my son's primary school leaving disco. It was a big hired one and added a bit of wow factor. There was one lad there of Indian heritage wearing a beautiful traditional suit in cream silk. He made straight for the fountain. Cue a reaction from every mum in the place turning towards him like a slow motion section in a film with all of us going 'Noooooooo..."
Too late.

Yes, the plan is just for the kids to eat, but I am sure some of the parents will tuck in too!

One of the other parents is organising the drinks.. I will let them know about the slushy idea as I think they would love that!

Do you think just reduce quantities of everything? So do a small amount, but keep the variety?

Definitely chocolate fountain, fruit, marshmallow, and mini jelly's for kids to make their own skewers.

Oh no! I can easily imagine that scene 🫣😂 His poor parents having to clean that suit!

I do agree the chocolate fountain definitely has a wow factor! I'm scared of the mess though!