The council provides catering services for schools, community services meals that include day centres and the meals on wheels service within the communities in which we serve.
We provide approximately 20,000 meals per day and will ensure that all food supplied, produced, stored, handled and in some cases transported to client, service users or staff is done so in accordance with relevant legislative requirements.
We are working towards implementing nutritional standard regulations in our schools, as set out in the guidelines from the Welsh Government in the Appetite for Life (A4L) action plan -see A4L link below.
Appetite for Life| sets out the Welsh Government's agenda for improving the food and drink provided throughout the school day and the actions needed to make this happen. Please complete our small survey| about Appetite for Life.
The Welsh Government has designed a new webpage |specifically for Appetite for life and well worth a look:
Following feedback from students we have launched new exciting menus across our schools. All our meals are cooked by trained staff using quality products and ingredients and in line with Food Safety standards.
During the next twelve months all schools will be working towards the Appetite for Life programme. Appetite for Life sets out the Welsh Government’s agenda for improving the food and drink provided throughout the school day and the actions needed to make this happen. All schools are currently working towards the implementation of Appetite for Life by 2012.
Schools are ideal places to encourage healthier eating and good choices in food for the pupils, which should assist in the prevention of childhood obesity and other health complications.
All catering staff are fully trained in food safety and in nutrition and healthy eating. They encourage students to select a healthy choice menu and options and also provide a range of “Fun Day’s”
Actively working in partnership with Healthy Schools, Health Promotion, Dieticians and colleagues from the British Dental Association, one of our aims is to actively encourage the take up of the Eat 5 fruit and vegetable campaign.
We also cater for special dietary requirements either for medical, therapeutic, ethnic or elective grounds.
We provide lunchtime meals for pupils, teachers and support staff in:
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Crèches
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Nursery/infant/junior/primary schools
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Special schools and pupil referral units
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Secondary/high schools/community schools
Access to good quality school meals can make a significant contribution to a child’s dietary intake and influence to children’s overall health and wellbeing. The provision of free school meals (FSM) for those who qualify helps to ensure that most children have at least one balanced, nutritious meal during the school day, irrespective of parental income.
The range of choices for all pupils, either paying or entitled to free school meals is the same. Each day the catering services in each school (primary and secondary) provide a range of choices of hot meals, salads, filled jacket potatoes and baguettes, even pack lunches can be provided.
If you think your child may be entitled to free school meals please view the free school meals| page for more information. To see our current menus:
The meal of the day comprises of a main course, dessert and drink. This represents excellent value for money for only £2.20.
Also, on offer are the healthy choices below:-
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Home made dish of the day e.g. curry, chilli, Cajun or traditional option from £2.00
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Range of freshly prepared salads, salad & pasta pots from £1.20
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Filled jacket potatoes from £1.50
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Filled tortilla wraps, pitas, baguettes, rolls and hot baps from £1.20
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Pre- selection vegetarian menu from £1.20
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Delicious desserts, puddings, fresh fruit and yoghurts from 40p-£85p
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Carvery lunch (in some schools) £2.20
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Pasta and Pizza of the day from £1.10 to £1.70
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Range of nutritious snacks and drinks from 30p to £1.00
Each cafeteria is different and many are open from breakfast through until school closure and include, deli bars, coffee corners, boost bars including pasta, baguettes, spice and salad bars.
The primary sector's expecting a busy and exciting time ahead with the business moving forward with the implementation of the Appetite for Life food standards and nutrition guidelines. The current menu has proved popular with our customers and during the coming months the primary team intend making a few changes to include even more home cooked nutritional products, especially as nearly all our primary schools now have a salad bar.
We offer a balanced set menu for £2.00 per day and we will continue with our commitment to use locally sourced products wherever possible.
To date, we have converted 15 dining centres to mini kitchens, when funding becomes available we plan to move this strategy out further.
We currently operate 91 free breakfast clubs in primary schools and served approximately 450,000 healthy breakfasts last year. This was possible because of funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.
In the past we have prided ourselves on the commitment to train our staff to above the legal requirements, and will continue to do so.
Topics delivered by out training team include CIEH Food Hygiene Levels 1, 2 and 3, Nutrition Level 2 and Health and Safety. All are energetically delivered by our 2 highly experienced and enthusiastic trainers in a variety of venues throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf. Our customer base includes our staff and other internal individuals and organisations. Our trainers enhance the learning experience by sharing their own personal experiences of public and private sector catering. Their continued daily involvement in large capacity catering operations supports their delivery, ensuring all delegates receive the most relevant and up-to date topical information in a friendly and accessible manner. The success and diversity of the training team was formerly recognised in July at the Local Association Catering Association (LACA) National Conference with the presentation of the Nan Berger Memorial Award which acknowledges innovation and diversity in catering training provision.
Additionally, with the support and input of our of two 2 Quality Assurance Support Officer’s we provide consultancy services which include hygiene audits, hygiene related advice and Hazard Analysis documentation development. We also closely monitor the quality and safety of the food provision supplied by Catering Services throughout the authority and contribute and support the implementation of nutritional standards within RCT Schools.
We are committed to improving the standards of food served in all the services offered and developing a sustainable service for the future. Our aim is to provide a quality, value-for-money service and to contribute to the health and well being of the community as a whole.
Feedback is very important so if you would like to contact us regarding catering issues or to request copies of menus, tariffs etc please contact us:
RCT Catering Services
Tŷ Trevithick
Abercynon
Mountain Ash
CF45 4UQ
Telephone: 01443 744155
Fax: 01443 744290
Email: cateringservices@rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk|