Bydales Catering Letter

Dear Parents/Carers

As you are aware, we are working with a specialist catering provider, Robertson FM, to provide catering at Outwood Academy Bydales. We are continually reviewing this service to ensure that it offers good value for money for our students and obviously this is particularly pertinent with the current pressures on cost of living. 

To ensure this is sustainable, and that we make the best use of school funds to provide an excellent education for your child, we need to ensure that all students have sufficient balances on their account to pay for the food they need each day. 

From 22 April 2024 students will only be permitted to incur a maximum overdraft of £4.00 on their account. We understand that a student may run out of funds or a parent/carer has not had a chance to add funds to their child’s account.  The £4.00 is sufficient to allow students to buy a meal deal (main meal, dessert and drink). This deal is only available as one purchase and can’t be split over break and lunchtime. School menu's can be viewed here

If your child runs out of money on their account, they will be provided with a meal and catering staff will inform your child that they are now in debt and they will need to top up their account for the following day in order to purchase food.

For families in receipt of free school meals, your child will still be able to access a free meal deal, ensuring they receive a main meal, dessert and drink.  Additional to this, the academy provides a break time menu however this is not covered under free school meals. If your child is on free school meals and they go into debt, they must also return their account to zero that evening ready for the following day. If you need any further support please contact your student’s  learning manager at the school or email enquiries@bydales.outwood.com

Please could I also encourage you to apply for free school meals if you are eligible to do so. Not only does this provide free school meals for your child it also increases the funding the school gets to support students.  Further details can be found via the link below;

https://www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/schools-and-education/free-school-meals Please note the academy uses a fingerprint system and therefore it is confidential who is in receipt of free school meals.

Your faithfully