Background Information
Newfield is an 11-16 year comprehensive school built to accommodate 1,050 pupils and Talbot is an innovative, specialist school for young people with complex learning difficulties. Talbot School currently has around 300 pupils on roll. Previously the two schools were located on separate sites.
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How was the project funded?
The new school site was funded by Sheffield Local Authority on a 25 year PFI arrangement. Maintenance costs for the dining room and kitchen area (including the equipment) were built into the contract.
What improvements were made to the lunchtime provision?
In January 2009 both the schools became co-located and now share a new building with state of the art resources and facilities. The building work took around 3 years to complete.
Dining area:
The two schools now share a dining area which has been decorated in a contemporary manner with a café feel. Open windows and lighting have created a bright environment. Acoustic tiles in the ceiling and doorsets have been installed to reduce noise levels during lunchtimes.
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Talbot School start their lunchtime service 15 minutes earlier to ensure that pupils have enough time to have their meal. Pupils from Talbot School are also supported by teaching staff in the dining area. Specialist reflex equipment including, adapted crockery and cutlery has been provided to enable pupils to dine more independently. The layout of the dining area has been designed to increase access and enable wheelchair users to utilise the dining tables.
Within the new dining area there are 500 seats and these are given as a priority to pupils taking a school meal. Additional seating and tables are set out in the foyer, next to the dining area to increase capacity. Benches and a covered seating area are located outside, for pupils to utilise during the summer months.
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There are 4 servery areas within the dining area and each has a till point. An additional service hatch is located outside in the seating area. The serveries offer the following options:
- 2x’s serveries offer cold sandwiches, pasta and snacks
- 1 servery offers a hot main meal
- 1 servery offers a hot main meal with a Halal option
- 1 servery (outside) offers cold sandwiches, pasta and snacks
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A biometric cashless catering card system was introduced to increase service time by reducing money handling at till points. Pupils can top up their cards in the dining area and at other machine points on site. The card system was funded by and is maintained by the school.
Kitchen area:
The Kitchen area floor plans can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
Case study:Newfield Secondary School and Talbot Specialist School floor plans
Click here to download (Adobe pdf doc 249KB)
New equipment has been installed in the kitchen area including: a gas fired range, dish washers, a waste disposal unit and baine maries. The catering provider has trained staff to be able to use the new equipment and adhere to health and safety standards.
A state of the art Building Management System (BMS) controls the building temperature, extraction and air conditioning. Localised controls are located in the kitchen area and can be accessed by catering staff.
School food:
The catering provider meets with the school council and uses their feedback to design new menus which are rotated on a 4 week cycle. To view an example menu please click on the following link:
Case study:Newfield Secondary School and Talbot Specialist School menus
Click here to download (Adobe pdf doc 320KB)
New menus are analysed by the Local Authority using the Nutmeg software package to ensure that they are compliant with the nutrient based standards. Caterers also create new dishes and menus in conjunction with theme days. For example: St Patrick’s Day and Christmas lunch. School food is promoted by displaying information about meal deals and menus in the dining area. The catering provider also runs a breakfast and mid morning service.
Who was involved in implementing the changes to the lunchtime provision?
- School Council
- Parents
- School Governors
- Headteacher(s)
- School Senior Leadership Team
- Bursar
- Business Manger
- Taylor Shaw Catering Provider
- Vinci Facilities Management
- Local Authority
What have been the benefits to the school?
The newly opened schools have been commended by PfS for their design merit and for promoting educational aspirations. Newfield Comprehensive and Talbot Specialist Schools are very satisfied with the new lunchtime provision.
Judith Smith Headteacher, Talbot School comments on the benefits of the new school site and in particular the lunchtime period.
“Lunchtimes offer the opportunity to share a common theme of meeting both social and practical needs.”
“Both student communities are inquisitive of each other and through our gentle approach to co-location and inclusion, we are equipping all our young people with the skills to communicate and understand each other’s needs.”
To view a copy of the full report please click on the following link:
Case study:Newfield Secondary School and Talbot Specialist School Headteacher’s article
Click here to download (Adobe pdf doc 302KB)
Dining space:
Pupils and staff feel that sharing the dining space has been very beneficial to improving inclusion and social interaction. The pupils look after their new environment and enjoy eating in the dining area. Noise over the lunchtime period has been reduced as a result of the acoustic tiling and doorsets. The improved layout has enabled pupils from both the schools to be able to utilise the space.
The multiple service areas and till points have reduced queue time and increased flow through the dining area. Furthermore the cashless card system has helped to speed up service time and has also been utilised in the library, during registration and to monitor access in and out of the building.
Kitchen area:
New equipment has improved the capacity and efficiency of the kitchen. Catering staff can now provide a more varied choice of school meals e.g. Halal options. The installation of the BMS has ensured that the kitchen staff can control the temperature and extraction system in the kitchen and dining space.
School food:
Pupils feel that their food choices and preferences are taken on board by the catering provider. The school food is compliant with the nutrient based standards. As a result take up has increased to 65%.
What have the schools learnt as a result of the improvements?
It has been incredibly important for the facilities management, catering provider and the two schools to meet on a regular basis to highlight any issues with the building.
Do you have any future priorities for improving the lunchtime provision?
Both the schools continue to work together to promote inclusive practice through collaboration.
Contact details:
If you would like further information about this case study then please contact the School Food Trust on 0800 089 5001 or alternatively please email info@childrensfoodtrust.org.uk
