How the new standards affect existing agreements between schools and food suppliers.
The Trust has produced A fresh look at school food procurement efficiency and sustainability. This booklet provides practical guidance to assist schools and local authorities to respond to the Government’s efficiency and sustainability agendas as they relate to school food. See further reading below.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (now the Department for Education (DfE)) has produced Guidance on Procuring School Meals to help schools locked into long-term contracts to vary these contracts and incorporate the new school food standards.
Sustainable procurement
Sustainable procurement is about understanding the impact of purchasing decisions on the environment and economy. It therefore makes sense to give due consideration to factors such as food quality, seasonality of produce and food miles when making purchasing decisions for school meals.
Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI)
The aim of the initiative is to encourage public sector buyers including schools and local authorities to work with farmers, growers and suppliers. The DCSF has produced a Food Procurement Action Plan (http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110316231736/http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=8208) which sets out how it will address the objectives of the Public Sector Food Procurement (www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/public-sector/).
DEFRA has published extensive guidance on good practice for local authorities on their PSFPI website including a useful section on funding for farmers, rural organisations and voluntary/ community sector organisations. Broader guidance includes working within the procurement rules and reports of work undertaken in the regions. This guidance does not replace local authorities’ standard contracts, regulations/standing orders.
Local authorities should also refer to the findings of the National Audit Office report on Smarter Food Procurement.
