New Educaterers ‘hot box’ meal option now available
A new ‘hot box’ meal choice from school caterers, Educaterers, is already proving popular with primary schools in Warwickshire that are offering the lunch option to pupils, with an average of 10,000 ‘hot box’ meals a week being delivered this month.
The ‘hot boxes’ are a traditional hot school lunch presented in a box that keeps the food warm and can be eaten out of by primary school pupils who are unable to have their lunch in the dining room due to Covid safety measures.
Since the start of term, Educaterers have been offering hot and cold ‘deli bags’ to all primary schools, which have proved very popular. But as the weather gets colder, the need to once again provide a ‘hot dinner’ menu with meals from the usual Educaterers menu was recognised.
The ‘hot box’ option started last week (w/c 2nd November) with 17 Warwickshire primary schools so far offering it as a choice, with more schools set to do the same later this month.
Everyday there is a ‘red’ option and a ‘green’ option, with some schools offering jacket potatoes.
To cover the costs of the ‘hot box’ packaging, the cost of the school meals is £2.34 each. Some schools are choosing to pass the slight increase in cost on to paying parents and carers, while others have chosen to absorb the additional cost.
Leanne Harris, Business Manager at St Marie’s Catholic Primary School and Nursery in Rugby, said:
“The school were dubious about starting hot meals again in the current climate. However, working with Educaterers, we were able to devise a plan that has so far worked well with the school.
“Feedback from the staff and the children has been very complimentary. Previously the children were eating from deli bags in classrooms, this created an environment which was not enjoyable for staff or pupils.
“It has been wonderful to see the children being able to eat a warm nutritious meal, especially as we are now going into the winter months, and it is allowing staff to take much needed breaks away from the classroom.
“Overall, we at St Marie’s are very happy with the transition back to hot meals and are hopeful this will be a positive step forward in a difficult climate for all staff and pupils.”
Matthew Brown, Headteacher at St Paul’s C of E Primary School in Leamington, said:
“As a Headteacher, leading a school in the current climate is challenging. One of the greatest challenges has been with regards to proving school meals.
“Thanks to Educaterers, we were able to offer deli bags quickly during lockdown to our keyworker and vulnerable children.
“On our return in September, it was clear that lunches and lunch times would need to be managed very differently, therefore keeping the deli bags going was a sensible and easy option.
“However, we were very conscious that our children were not getting a hot nutritious meal in school and were also aware that this may be the most important meal of the day for some of our children.
“Through working with the brilliant team at Educaterers, we manged to work out a system in which we could provide hot meals directly to children into the classroom. We now provide a choice of hot meals to all of our children in a safe way, that is environmentally friendly and manageable.
“Thank you to everyone at Educaterers who have risen to the challenge of helping the children at St. Paul's Church of England Primary School to keep healthy.”
To find out more about the Educaterers ‘hot boxes’, please contact Lisa Martin, email lisamartin@educaterers.co.uk.