DETAILED BID FOR FSM PILOTS
1. General details:
a)Name of LA.
b)Name andcontactdetails of LA representative.
c)Position held in LA.
d)Is this bid in collaboration with the PCT:Yes
e)If yes: Name and contact details of PCTrepresentative.
f)Position held in the PCT.
2. The pilot:
a)Type of pilot to be run: Universal Extension of FSM eligibility
Either
b)What do you estimateis the % of pupilseligible to FSMs across the local authority area. Please break thisdown into primary and secondary school pupils.
c)What %of pupils are eligiblefor FSMs across the local authority area based on the Jan 2008 schoolcensus. Please breakthis down into primary and secondary school pupils.
d)Please explainany differences between b) and c).
e)What is your %age take up of school meals across the local authority area. Please break this down into primary andsecondary school pupils.
f)Please explain how these figures have been calculated.
g)What % of reception pupils in the local authority area are overweight or obese.
h)What % of Year 6 pupils in the local authority area are overweight or obese.
i)Where does this information come from.
j)How many schools will take part in the pilot, primary only for universal pilot).
k)How many pupils does this involve (primary only for universal pilot).
l)Does this include the whole of the LA area: Yes
If Yes, please go to question t.
If No please complete the following questions.
m)Please explain why the pilot does not include the whole LA area.
n)What do you estimate is the % of pupils that are eligible for FSMs in the pilot area.
o)What is your %age take up of school meals across the pilot area. Please break this down into primary and secondary school pupils.
p)Please explain how these figures have been calculated.
q)What % of reception pupils in the pilot area are overweight or obese.
r)What % of Year 6 pupils in the pilot area are overweight or obese.
s)Where does this information come from.
t)Please give us an overview on your plan for the pilot.
u)Who in the LA and/or PCT will be responsible for co-ordinating the pilot
v)Please outline your estimated timetable for setting up the pilots.
w)Please describe what you will do when the pilot finishes and funding ceases (your exit strategy)
x)Please list the keyrisks that could hinderthe successfuloperation of the pilot.
y) What steps will youtake to mitigate theserisks.
3. Management Information
Please confirm that you agree to provide all of the data required to operate the pilot:
Please confirm that all schools participating in the pilot agree to provide this data:
a)At present, what informationdoes the LA/PCT collect on the costs and take up of school meals
b)How do you collectthis information andin what format is thedata stored.
c)How is this data used.
d)How do pupils pay for schoolmeals.
e)If there is a cashless system, how many schools in the proposed pilot area use this system.
f)For extension pilot only, how do you plan to collect information on parents whose children become eligible for FSMs under the extended criteria.
4) Marketing and other initiatives
a)What initiatives have the LA undertaken in the last two years to improve health and/or promote school meals in the pilot area.
b)What other big initiatives have been undertaken in the area.
c)What do you consider will be the impact of these initiatives on the evaluation of the pilot.
d)What initiatives are is currentlyplannedin the area for thenext two to 3 years?
e)How will you market the expanded provisionof free school meals.
5. Capacity and provision of additional meals
a) At present, who provides the school meal for all schools in the pilot area
b)Please describe the procurement arrangements for school meals
provision.
c)Would any of the above change under the pilot.
d)Please describe how you will ensure that there is sufficientcapacity in schoolkitchensto provide theadditional school meals.
e)Please describe howyou will ensure that there is sufficientdining space and sufficientfacilities(eg crockery, cutlery and trays) to
provide theadditional schoolmeals
f)Please describe how you willrecruit and train sufficientcatering
staffto providetheadditionalschoolmeals
6. Costs
Authorities and PCTs will need to think carefully about the costs of the pilot and the funding that will be required to match the Government’s contribution. For example, clearly the bulk of the funding will be needed to meet the direct costs of providing the meal but, if you anticipate other costs associated with running the pilot, you should include these with an explanation of why they are needed. On the basis of that explanation, we will then judge whether they should be allowed within the funding.
Authorities and PCTs should also be aware that their matched funding must be additional money. Forexample, we will not accept the School Lunch Grant*or any other grant provided by the Government. Again, any proposals for different types of matched funding will needto be accompanied by a clear explanation.
* Noted subsequent DCSF advice permits use of School Lunch Grant
a)What is the average selling price of a school meal
i) PRIMARY:
ii) SECONDARY:
b)Please estimate the total cost of the pilot by year. Please note that the provision of FSMs will last for two academic years but will span three financial years.
2009-10 / 2010-11 / 2011-12£5.67m / £8.29m / £2.6m
c) Please provide a breakdown of what this will be spent on.
d)What amount of match funding will you provide:
2009-10 / 2010-11 / 2011-12£1.418m / £2.072m / £0.654m
e)Please describe how you will find the matched funding/resources for the pilot.
f)Have you obtained the appropriate approvalfor this funding?
Please give details.
g)If not, when will this be in place, and from whom will it come
7.Additional information: Please use the space below to expand on any of your answers or to provide us with any additional information to support your bid
Increasing school meal take up is a high priority for the County Council and the PCT and a free school meal pilot could contribute significantly towards Corporate priorities such as reducing childhood obesity; raising aspirations and helping everyone to achieve and economic wellbeing.
The pilot would be timely as it follows hard on the heels of the appointment of a vibrant new catering contractor, who is already making a good impression with schools, parents and governors and it would be a major boost for the new County Durham Unitary Authority which comes into being from April 2009.
There is a great deal of interest in schools meals from primary head teachers and school governors and we are confident that the pilot would be well organised and be a huge success.
Food Supplies
Although current food supplies are delivered 1-2 times per week to accommodate the sustainability agenda, we are able to increase the number of deliveries to accommodate the increased food required.
Menus
Taylor Shaw policy is to provide meals from fresh produce where possible. Menus are seasonally aligned and meet the requirements of the school food standards.
When these menus were originally introduced there was initial resistance, however, through taster sessions with parents and children and continuous working with children via SNAG’s, has been overcome. Currently there is very positive feedback from catering staff and school staff with regard to our menus.
Partnership Working
Durham already has communication networks set up with all stakeholders i.e. County Council, Primary Care Trusts, Taylor Shaw (Catering Provider), School staff, Governor Network etc.
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