School Food Trust • Parents & carers - Case studies - New Dining Experience for Pupils at Ravensbury Community Primary

The success of the new Munchy Crunchy Club dining room is proven by successfully achieving its objectives.

March 2008

Action taken

School meals provider Manchester Fayre, has an established relationship with Ravensbury Community School and was keen to work with the school to further develop the dining experience for pupils. The number of children choosing a school meal at lunchtime was good, although the uptake of school meals had started to fall, which created an opportunity to improve the dining experience to help sustain and increase meal numbers within the school. Four objects were set:

Objective 1: To create an improved dining room experience.
Objective 2: To involve the pupils in the changes and change their food choices in the dining room.
Objective 3: To ensure uptake of school meals by 7%.
Objective 4: An effective return on investment.

Pupils were asked to name their dining room, which was later transformed into the “Munchy Crunchy Club” says Michelle Hargreaves from Manchester Fayre.

Enlarged posters promoting key healthy and nutrition messages were produced for display on the walls. To help create the “restaurant feel”, bus stop menu signs were displayed to inform pupils of the daily menu and A5 menus were displayed on the top of tables.

The regimented tables were re-organised into a more sociable, and informal arrangement, which helped children to socialise with their peers at lunchtime. Colourful tablecloths, vases and flowers and coloured tableware (including cups and jugs) were purchased for the newly arranged tables. Coloured waste baskets were also introduced for pupils that bring a packed lunch to encourage them to be responsible for tidying away their own litter after their lunch.

The catering team undertook training in the new nutritional guidelines as part of the transforming school food programme to help equip them with the knowledge of the new guidelines.

New kitchen equipment was purchased including an additional clearing trolley. The introduction of a new branded salad counter into the dining room enabled pupils to help themselves to fruit salad and a range of salad items to accompany their main meal.

‘This proved to be a huge success as it not only encouraged them to eat more salad and fruit, but they also enjoy having the ability to self-serve’ highlights Michelle.

What were the outcomes and benefits?

The success of the initiative can be measured against the objectives set at the outset.

Objective 1: To create an improved dining room experience and Objective 2: To involve the pupils in the changes and change their food choices in the dining room.

‘The dining room has been radically transformed into The Munchy Crunchy Club. It’s an improved dining experience for the pupils’ says Michelle.

Anecdotal feedback from pupils has shown they are equally happy with the new Munchy Crunchy Club.

‘I like the Munchy Crunchy Club because it’s colourful. If it was boring, it wouldn’t be exciting!’ highlights Brandy, Year 2.

‘You can have healthy dinners in the Munchy Crunchy Club’ says Beverley, Year 4.

‘I like the colourful signs in the dining room’ says Dominica, Year 4.

Objective 3: To ensure uptake of school meals by 7% was exceed. Following the changes made to the dining service, uptake increased by 9.5%.

Objective 4: An effective return on investment. For little financial investment but great attention to detail a successful new dining room has been created.
Sustainability

Due to the success of the new dining room, ‘Munchy Crunchy Club, the following initiatives will be implemented:

Promote the concept across the city. The success of the improved dining room experience will be promoted to other schools within the area to help sustain and increase meal numbers.
Submission of an award in partnership working. The school will be nominated for relevant awards promoting the success of the partnership working.
Parent consultation. Regular consultation with parents and pupils to obtain feedback on the new dining room and ensure they are satisfied with the new dining room and service provided.
Marketing campaign. Weekly menus will be sent to the school to be displayed on the school website which will enable parents to be kept up-to-date with the developments of the Munchy Crunchy Club and news and activities related to school meals.
There will also be links with the Manchester Fayre school meal website www.myschoollunch.co.uk/manchester.
Communication with key stakeholders, including parents, governors, healthy school coordinators and pupils will be ongoing to ensure that they are aware of further new developments and initiatives. New developments in the dining room. The Munch Crunchy Club will be installing ‘mufflers’ to reduce noise levels. Additionally, ambient background music will be introduced later this year.

(Michelle Hargreaves, Manchester Fayre)

Learning Experience

Michelle reflects,

‘The project at Ravensbury had a whole school approach with all the school getting involved and excited about the outcomes.’

‘Due to effective partnership working between all parties including the head teacher and school management, pupils, the catering team and Manchester Fayre; a closer relationship with lunchtime organisers encouraged them to be involved with the success of the improved dining experience at Ravensbury. A continued investment from all the parties involved will mean continual success of the project.’