menus - Every day, in Secondary and Primary schools, the menu is displayed on menu boards in the dining rooms especially designed for LBC Catering Services. In the Primary sector the menu boards have an illustration of a cheery smiling character designed to make pupils enjoy reading the menu for the day and help them make their choice before they reach the food service counter. In Secondary’s the board is a more sophisticated design, creating more of a ‘restaurant’ ambience for the older pupils. Four week menus are created by each Kitchen Manager, especially tailored to the likes and cultures of their school pupils. Click here to view the Primary School Menu for Autumn 2011
parents evenings - These events are often attended by Kitchen Managers, Area Managers, who will be on hand to answer parent questions about school meals and show some examples of the meals on offer to pupils.
national promotions - Schools are invited annually to take part in National School Meals Week, which has competitions with prizes for different age groups, special menus and activities, all with a theme for better health and diet.
school chef of the year - This is a National Competition sponsored by large wholesale food retailers to find the best school chef. Participants have to create a two course meal, using some specified ingredients and keeping within a maximum cost. Local and  regional heats take place and the winner of the regional goes to a National Final. Members of LBC Catering staff are keen to take part and to date we have won a second in the National final and two runners up in the regional heats.
theme days - All school kitchens hold regular theme days throughout the year. These can be seasonal; eg Easter, Christmas, topical; eg World Cup Football, Olympic Games, traditional; eg Chinese, Indian, curriculum; eg book days, numeracy, Saints Days; eg St Patrick, St David, celebratory; eg Valentines day, Halloween etc. These are popular with pupils as special menus are prepared and often dining rooms decorated by catering staff and/or pupils, with special outfits worn during the lunch time service.
parent tasting days - Parents are invited to come in to the school dining rooms by arrangement between LBC Catering and school staff to taste samples of dishes on the menus, in a bid to encourage more parents to choose a school meal for their child. Research carried out revealed parents were unclear about the kind of food on offer to their children. Many believed that school meals everywhere were like those portrayed on Jamie Oliver's programme School Dinners, which has since led to a decline in the number of children staying for a school meal. The school catering team serve up the normal nutritional menu and parents are able to see for themselves the quality of service on offer. We believe that this initiative has been a success in reassuring parents that school meals here in Luton in general, are of the highest order and provide children with a varied and balanced choice of healthy options. The commitment of our catering team should be commended for striving to offer our children the very best.
surveys - We put great value in listening to what parents, pupils and school staff want from their catering service and will continue to survey specific schools and groups on appropriate issues.