Innovate

At Innovate, we offer a compelling mix of high quality food choices and are committed to providing a fresh food service in a convenient and fun way. Our menus we create are designed to provide the students with the very best mix of contemporary, global and traditional flavours to enhance our customers dining experience, whilst providing well-balanced menus to help support a healthy lifestyle.

Sourcing responsibly and locally, where possible. Our meat, fresh vegetables and fruit are UK grown and Red Tractor accredited.

• Over 95% of the food we serve is prepared from scratch using fresh ingredients…daily sandwiches, main meals, bakery, salad bar to name a few.
• Using MSC accredited fish and seafood.
• Eggs that are free range and RSPCA Assured accredited.
• All of our menus and recipes are fully compliant with the Government School Food Standards.

Our Chef Manager on site or our Regional Business Managers are always happy to listen to you and your ideas so if you want to talk, we’re here to listen. We are proactive with the feedback received and work with students, parents and the school to ensure a bespoke service where possible. Throughout the year we also pop along and visit the student council or any “enthusiastic about food” group to hear their thoughts. If a particular area is raised, we explain how we will take your idea and develop it. So we want to hear from you, about your likes and dislikes and your ideas for the future.

hello@innovatefood.co.uk 0845 494 0005Innovate Halal Certificate

Cashless Catering

What is cashless catering?

At Park View School we use a cashless catering system. This means that students no longer need to bring money into school to pay for food and refreshments throughout the day. This system has a number of advantages:

Students are served much faster, dramatically reducing queuing times.

• Students no longer risk losing dinner money.
• Parents know that students are eating healthy foods each day and not spending money on unhealthy food and drinks.
• Students eligible for free school meals no longer need to queue for lunch tickets before school or at break.
• Parents/carers have the option to monitor the foods that their children are consuming by means of a secure website (this is available to parents/carers that choose to use 'parentpay')
• Pupils are able to access breakdowns of their nutritional intake for analysis across the curriculum. 

How is this achieved?

In order to make this possible we use a biometric solution. The students are required to place a fingertip on a scanner at the point of sale. The students picture and name then appears on a screen for a till operator to verify. The till operator then selects the items the student wishes to purchase and the appropriate amount is automatically deducted from the student’s account.

How is money paid into a student's account?

 A student’s account can be 'topped up';

Online: Using a system called 'parentpay' parents/carers can top up the account, view the balance and see what their children have been eating.

How do I find out if my child is eligible for free school meals?

Free school meals may be provided for your children if you, as a parent are in receipt of Income Support, Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, income-related employment and support allowance (this benefit was introduced on 27 October 2008), the guarantee element of State Pension Credit, support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 or receive Child Tax Credit (but not Working Tax Credit) and have an annual income of less than £16,190.

To find out whether your child qualifies for free school meals, please complete the form available in the Free School Meals section on the website.

Do you record a finger print?

The company that administer our biometric system is called Cunningham’s. They are an extremely experienced company and have provided biometric solutions to many schools throughout the UK. All students need to have their index fingers scanned. From this scan, 120 points are identified and converted to a numerical code that is unique to each student at a particular school. The finger print is not recorded and saved in any way.

What happens if I don't want my child to have their fingertip scanned?

We appreciate that some parents/carers may not want their children to use a biometric method of identification. If this is the case a student can still be identified at any point of sale by giving their name. The student’s picture would then appear on the screen and would require the till operator to confirm the student's identity before any money could be deducted from the account.