New digital school meals system planned for hundreds of Sunderland children - this is how it would work

The advanced electronic ordering system has been proposed for 50 city primary schools whose meals services are overseen by Sunderland City Council.

The system will allow pupils or their families to pre-order meals the night before, and even change their order by mid-morning.

Council chiefs say the proposed new digital ordering system could help with::: Increasing uptake of healthy school meals:: Reducing food waste/costs:: Improving service efficiency and staff productivity:: Safeguarding children with special dietary needs:: Improving debt management in schools through integrated payment systems:: Improving retention of current contracts and enhanced chance of winning new contracts.A decision on a digital menu contract valued at up to £250,000 over three years is being considered at the next meeting of the city council's ruling cabinet on Tuesday October 13.It follows consultation and feedback from primary schools which said there was an appetite for a new, updated and electronic pre-ordering meals system.Councillor Louise Farthing, cabinet member for Children, Learning and Skills, said: "We have a popular and well-regarded school meals service here in Sunderland. It's only right and to be expected that we move with the times and update how meals are ordered."Electronic menus will already be familiar to many families and to many children outside of school. Now, all we're doing is moving that ordering process into the digital era."The council and schools would share the initial costs of the service before it moved to annual licensing fees.Cllr Farthing added: "Subject to our decision to progress and develop this, I think there is also a very good chance that with such a convenient, modern and new system of ordering we could also see an uptake in the numbers of children and schools enjoying the meals service."

The meeting on October 13 where the decision will be made is open to the public.During the Covid-19 pandemic, council meetings have been taking place online and can be viewed on the council's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1ignNAcy_qyNqUGnWKPjow

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