A PRIMARY school catering team from Warwickshire has been recognised for stepping up to the plate.
The Educaterers catering team from Knightlow Primary School near Rugby has been recognised by the UK’s national school catering industry body for going ‘above and beyond’ to deliver school meals and more during the pandemic.
The team is just one of three from across the UK to be short-listed for the ‘Primary School Catering Team’ title in the LACA Awards for Excellence 2020.
The school remained open throughout the crisis, with supervisor Kayleigh Hall and assistant Tia Nelson caring for and feeding vulnerable children and those of key workers.
Educaterers would usually provide face-to-face training for a new catering supervisor, but for Kayleigh, who started at the school in March, this was not possible. Kayleigh had to fall back on her previous training as a catering assistant and undertake remote mentoring and online training as well as train her new assistant Tia.
Managing Director of Educaterers Terry Tredget said: “Both Kayleigh and Tia really pulled together and formed a close bond right from the start.
“They were determined to devise and implement activities to increase awareness of and support the school’s food service and do their very best for their young diners and the wider community in Stretton on Dunsmore.”
Their activities included making ‘thank you’ sweet treats for their ‘mini key workers’, organising a meal delivery service to children from their partner school which had closed, a sports day themed lunch, and a sports themed picnic treat for key workers on the school field.
When schools reopened, the team devised a special hot and cold ‘deli bag’ menu to support social distancing.
Terry added: “Our Educaterers team at Knighlow Primary School perfectly exemplify the amazing, caring, committed, dedicated and hard-working attitude of the school food industry.
“They more than stepped up to the plate, working in a covid secure environment, with humour and professionalism and without concern for themselves, to ensure that every child had a great school lunch.
“But they went far beyond that by planning themed events, making sweet treats and devising activities that helped these children leave their worries at the school gate.
“When the school they send a lunch to everyday closed, Kayleigh and Tia arranged a meal delivery service to the vulnerable and free school meal eligible children, to ensure they got at least one good meal a day. They also worked throughout the Easter school holidays and half term too.
“We’re up against some tough competition, but I really hope Kayleigh and Tia get the recognition they deserve.”
The competition winners will be announed tomorrow (Wednesday November 25).
