As we start the new academic year, we would like to remind schools of the importance of following an appropriate process when selecting or renewing contracts for school meal provision, and to share information about the support available through South West Norse, Devon County Council’s joint venture catering partner.
High-quality catering services play an important role in supporting children’s health, wellbeing and readiness to learn. They also represent a significant investment of public funds. Schools should therefore be able to demonstrate that decisions about catering provision are transparent, fair, represent good value for money and comply with their financial and governance responsibilities.
When appointing a provider, schools should ensure that they:
- Obtain and evaluate competitive quotations or tenders in line with procurement and financial regulations.
- Maintain clear records of the procurement process and the rationale for selecting a supplier.
- Consider the quality of provision, nutritional standards, service performance, resilience, safeguarding arrangements and overall value offered by potential providers.
- Avoid extending or awarding contracts without appropriate market testing where procurement thresholds or local requirements apply.
- Consider whether any conflicts of interest exist and ensure that these are declared and managed appropriately.
A robust procurement process not only supports compliance with audit and governance requirements, but also helps schools secure the best possible service for children and young people. Clear and transparent arrangements reduce the risk of challenge and provide assurance to governors, trustees, auditors and the wider community that public funds are being used responsibly.
If your school is considering a new catering arrangement or renewing an existing contract, we encourage you to review your procurement obligations at an early stage and seek advice where needed. Early planning can often make the process smoother and provide greater confidence that all requirements have been met.
Schools choosing to use South West Norse for catering services are not required to undertake a separate competitive procurement exercise. These arrangements are negotiated centrally between Devon County Council and South West Norse, with Devon County Council having a part-ownership interest in the organisation. Schools may therefore access these arrangements directly. Where schools wish to consider alternative providers, a fair, transparent and appropriately documented procurement process should be followed.
South West Norse has been in a joint venture with Devon County Council for nearly 20 years and remains committed to providing high-quality, nutritious school meals that comply with School Food Standards. Menus are reviewed by a dietitian and regularly monitored to ensure they meet the required standards.
South West Norse also holds the Food for Life Served Here Silver Award, recognising its commitment to freshly prepared meals, responsible sourcing, sustainability and healthy nutrition.
What South West Norse offers schools
South West Norse provides freshly prepared meals each day, with 75% of ingredients sourced locally. Menus are shaped by pupil feedback through the FLOURISH Pledge, supported by ongoing taste-testing sessions to encourage children to try new foods. Allergy menus are also available for children with allergies.
Despite rising food and staffing costs, South West Norse continues to protect meal quality by using its buying power, carefully managing procurement and reducing waste wherever possible.
Support for in-house catering teams
South West Norse can provide expert support for schools with in-house catering services, including food hygiene training, allergen awareness, compliance guidance, support with Benedict’s Law, new School Food Standards and wider catering best practice. The aim is to help schools stay compliant, develop staff confidence and deliver safe, nutritious meals every day.
Looking ahead, South West Norse is strengthening engagement with pupils, parents and schools, while continuing initiatives such as partnerships with Cool Food Pro and the Quadram Institute to support health, nutrition and sustainability.
If your school is considering a new catering arrangement or renewing an existing contract, please review your procurement obligations at an early stage and seek advice where needed. Early planning can make the process smoother and provide greater confidence that all requirements have been met.
For procurement queries, please contact Jon Williams at [email protected].
For a no-commitment discussion about your school catering needs, including free advice and support from Devon County Council’s joint venture partner, please contact Linda Keiller at [email protected] or call 01392 351173.
