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Original poster

Does your DC go to East Sheen? Tell me about your school dinners... PLEASE.

29 replies

Eleusis · 08/06/2007 14:14

That's it really. I've started a thread about the parent survey I got for a particular Twickenham COE school. They are considering going from cooked dinner to sandwiches and I'm trying to find out what other schools in Richmond Borough do. Apparently East Sheen has a pilot program with a different caaterer and it has had good reviews.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, if you have any first hand experience tell me about it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Eleusis · 08/06/2007 14:16

my other thread

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 08/06/2007 14:16

Why not call them?

Original poster
Eleusis · 08/06/2007 14:19

I will, mother. I just thought I might get some first hand reviews first.

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 08/06/2007 14:20

mother???
as in motherf**ker??

CountessDracula · 08/06/2007 14:22

ok as they have said it here i guess is ok to post

Original poster
Eleusis · 08/06/2007 14:25

No, ms potty mouth, I don't talk like that.

(and if you believe that I've got a bridge to sell you)

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 08/06/2007 14:26

Mrs Potty Mouth actually

Original poster
Eleusis · 08/06/2007 14:28

Did that link have something to do with East Sheen school dinners. You are confusing me.

OP posts:
MrsTweedy · 08/06/2007 14:35

I have a ds at East Sheen but have to dash will come back to this later. (Have recently changed my name CD as there are too many variations on it)

Original poster
Eleusis · 08/06/2007 14:45

MrsTweedy, I'm interested to know more. Do you know who I would contact to find out what East Sheen's contract with Pride is? I'm also wondering if other Richmond schools are going to them when the the Scholarest contract finishes?

OP posts:
Original poster
Eleusis · 08/06/2007 16:48

Anyone else?

OP posts:
MrsTweedy · 08/06/2007 19:12

Hi Eleusis
I see singersgirl has answered some points on your other thread. If you ring the school office they will point you in the right direction, I'm sure. Basically though, it was 2 mums who got the whole ball rolling, without them I don't think anything would have changed.
The quality of the food is much improved (though the portions are a bit small & ds has gone back to packed lunches just for this half-term as he was coming home hungry - he'll be back on school dinners in autumn). They are very popular and have been a big success.

Original poster
Eleusis · 08/06/2007 20:14

Thanks so much. Do you happen to know the two women who were instrumental in making this happen. If you do, would you be so kind as to pass them my e-mail address and askthem to e-mail me. I'd like to know who the appropriate contacts are at the caterer East Sheen uses.

eleusis hotmail co uk

THANK YOU!!!

OP posts:
MrsTweedy · 08/06/2007 20:24

Yes, I'll pass your email onto them.

Original poster
Eleusis · 08/06/2007 20:25

Thank you so much.

OP posts:
Bubble99 · 08/06/2007 20:31

Eleusis. I'm yer woman.

And thanks for pimping for me (again) BTW.

Scolarest are out across the borough. They have not fulfilled the terms of their contract and have jumped before they were pushed.

All of the PFI schools within the borough (5?) of which we are one have now taken tenders from various catering companies in order to have school meals ready for September.

East Sheen are using a comapny (and shit! I can't remember the name but I'll find out) and have seen a massive uptake.

They've gone from something like 14% (probably the freebies) to 78%.

All of the caterers tendering for our school have asked for kitchen re-fits and we're now waiting to see if the LA will pay.

Original poster
Eleusis · 08/06/2007 20:38

oh oh oh... you have kids at East Sheen. I want to know more. What I really want to know is who the three tenders are from for this Borough wide catering contract. And I want to propose to our head that they go up for a vote to the parents of our school and not that we let the borough decide our fate for the next 4 to 6 years. Sandwiches??? NO NO NO NO NO!

OP posts:
Bubble99 · 08/06/2007 20:44

No, mine aren't at East Sheen. But I'm a parent gov. at our school So I hear allsorts.

Sodhexo is one.
Can't remember the other two.

I'll find out.

Bubble99 · 08/06/2007 20:45

Why don't you try calling East Sheen?

They should tell you who provided their meals?

singersgirl · 08/06/2007 20:46

I have heard that the East Sheen company, Pride, have declined to pitch for the borough-wide catering contract, because they don't feel at the moment they would be able to maintain their high standards on such a wide scale. So I don't believe they're one of the 'tenderers'.

Did you see my reply on the other thread? It is true that there have been some complaints about portion size, but Pride are very keen to have feedback and I think the school is trying to set up some kind of feedback forum - everyone raised so much money for it that the whole school community is heavily invested in the issue.

MrsTweedy, are we all well and truly outed now?

singersgirl · 08/06/2007 20:46

Am also parent gov, so know a fair bit about the catering.

MrsTweedy · 08/06/2007 20:51

Hmmm, I'm not sure singersgirl! I have just changed my name (unrelated to this thread though)

singersgirl · 08/06/2007 22:59

Hmmmmmm.......

Original poster
Eleusis · 09/06/2007 21:16

Thanks again for everyone's help. I can't figure out why more schools in Richmond Borough have not followed East Sheen's lead.

OP posts:
sinclair · 09/06/2007 23:08

Think this is an issue being grappled with certainly across London. Many councils are actually subsidising the service - without an injection of cash they would run at a loss - so trying to spend more on ingredients whilst simultaneously opting out of the central funding is kind of tricky.

Eleusis, a parent gov at your school (or any governor but I usually approach the known face in the playground) will be able to tell you what if anything the school is doing, and you can always raise it at the next open meeting - there is usually a Governors' Report to Parents in the second half of this term round here. HTH