Chapel en le Frith High School has written to Interserve praising the company for serving high-quality food to vulnerable children during the pandemic. Interserve provides facilities management and catering services – via its Autograph catering business - to the high school, which is in Derbyshire.
The school’s Headteacher Simon Grieves has been particularly impressed by the catering, which is led by Catering Manager Sue McGrath.
The school is open for children from vulnerable families and for the children of key workers - in the region of 30 to 40 pupils on a daily basis.
Mr Grieves said: “The provision that Sue and her team are making for catering is making a huge difference to our students. They need stability and that is what Autograph is providing.
“In terms of our students’ mental health, familiar food in a familiar environment makes a huge difference.
“The catering team is very friendly, and this is important because we are caring for students some of whom have complex needs.”
Sue McGrath tours the school each morning to provide breakfast and check the menu with the children. She takes requests and makes adjustments to reflect what children want and once a week the team makes roast dinners.
Mr Grieves added: “To see the students and staff sit down last week, socially distanced, for roast dinner was amazing.
“I would like to formally praise Sue McGrath and her team on the work they are doing. It is much appreciated, and, in difficult times, it is making a real difference.”
Sue McGrath has managed the catering team at Chapel en le Frith High School for two-and-a-half years.
Sue McGrath said: “I have a fantastic team. We want to provide as much routine as possible and we know this hot meal may be the only hot meal some of the students get each day so it’s vitally important that they enjoy it.
“Almost all the food is made fresh on site. We want to create the best possible environment and part of that process includes getting to the know the children and serving healthy food that they want to eat.
“I’m delighted teachers are now also taking their lunch with the children. It helps break down barriers and during this difficult time is making a real difference.”
The school’s Headteacher Simon Grieves has been particularly impressed by the catering, which is led by Catering Manager Sue McGrath.
The school is open for children from vulnerable families and for the children of key workers - in the region of 30 to 40 pupils on a daily basis.
Mr Grieves said: “The provision that Sue and her team are making for catering is making a huge difference to our students. They need stability and that is what Autograph is providing.
“In terms of our students’ mental health, familiar food in a familiar environment makes a huge difference.
“The catering team is very friendly, and this is important because we are caring for students some of whom have complex needs.”
Sue McGrath tours the school each morning to provide breakfast and check the menu with the children. She takes requests and makes adjustments to reflect what children want and once a week the team makes roast dinners.
Mr Grieves added: “To see the students and staff sit down last week, socially distanced, for roast dinner was amazing.
“I would like to formally praise Sue McGrath and her team on the work they are doing. It is much appreciated, and, in difficult times, it is making a real difference.”
Sue McGrath has managed the catering team at Chapel en le Frith High School for two-and-a-half years.
Sue McGrath said: “I have a fantastic team. We want to provide as much routine as possible and we know this hot meal may be the only hot meal some of the students get each day so it’s vitally important that they enjoy it.
“Almost all the food is made fresh on site. We want to create the best possible environment and part of that process includes getting to the know the children and serving healthy food that they want to eat.
“I’m delighted teachers are now also taking their lunch with the children. It helps break down barriers and during this difficult time is making a real difference.”