Software package and information systems. Point of sale (POS) software package. The contract is for the provision of a centrally managed schools catering management system and individual systems to schools in the Telford and Wrekin Council area.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The contract is for the provision of a schools catering management system to individual schools in the Telford and Wrekin Council area. Provision of 1 system per school, with an additional 3 point of sale devices and afurther 2 for support..It is invisaged that systems will be required at a further 6 units during the next 5 years. The system will provide management information and manage pupil accounts for school meals. The system will also ensure effective communication to all parties, eg parents, employees, other agencies. Other Telford and WrekinCouncil establishments may purchase the system if required.

Education Catering Services have a wealth of knowledge with implementing and operating a cashless system. The current system has been in place since 2004. Experience and lessons learned have given us the opportunity to focus and determine what we want from a new system.
We are in the process of rolling out a new Nationwide School Catering Management System. It will be a centralised system that will help us become more automated by reducing the manual paperwork currently in place.

It will provide better communication to parents, pupils and staff regarding menu choice and change, account status and nutritional information.

The system will be linked to Civica, enabling parents to pay online and have more control over their child’s account. We will be able to follow meal uptake, menu trends and special dietary needs – centrally.

The system will also be linked directly to CMIS, which will automatically recognise any changes from the centre to till face. These include free school meal changes and photograph identification.

During the procurement process, a stakeholder group was set up with representatives including head teachers, administrators, parents, ICT, audit, CMIS and Civica. This has helped to ensure the system will benefit all the stakeholders, and support service delivery.