WHY CHOOSE US | Educatering Solutions

Here are some frequently asked questions

You should find everything you need to know about our catering here. If you have any further questions we would love to hear from you – so, please get in touch.

General Queries

Is there a minimum order requirement?

A minimum order of 15 hot lunches a day is required to keep the temperature of the food at or above the required level until the time of serving.

How do we place an order?

Our team will email you a unique log-in to our bespoke online ordering system. You will then be asked to complete the online form and submit accordingly each week.

How much does your service cost?

Please get in touch to discuss prices for our catering in your area.

How do we pay for our order?

We ask for all payments to be made BACS within 14 days from the date an invoice is raised.

Delivery Queries

Where do you deliver to?

We deliver nursery and school meals and afternoon teas to much of the Thames Valley. Please contact us to see if we deliver to your area. We are constantly reviewing our area of delivery, so if we are not in your area at present, we may be in the near future. Please feel free to contact our team to register your interest and we will notify you if we move into your area.

How does the food arrive?

Our meals are delivered using our fleet of electric vehicles, all of which are branded with our logo. Our drivers are friendly, reliable and all have ID badges, Company branded uniforms and are DBS checked.

Is the packaging recyclable?

All our equipment is re-usable. We use temperature-controlled, insulated thermo boxes, stainless steel tins and transparent plastic containers. We ask every nursery/ school? to clean all containers after use and place them inside the boxes, ready for collection the following day.

How do you ensure the food stays hot?

Cooking methods during production ensure a core food temperature of at least 80’c, at which point the foods are decanted into thermo containers. The initial cooking temperature and the type of containers/delivery times have been assessed to ensure that when the food is delivered to you, it will be at a temperature of above 63 degrees. However, in the unlikely event that the hot food has fallen below the legal standard of 63°C at service, we are able to demonstrate that this period of time will be minimal and has not exceeded a 2-hour period.

What time will the food arrive?

We aim to deliver the meals and/or afternoon tea to all our clients by 12.00 noon each day, however, the exact time of delivery depends on your location and which of our delivery routes you are placed on. You will be given your delivery time prior to commencing the catering service with us and will do our best to arrive well in advance of your daily serving time.

How do you avoid delays?

All our vans are fitted with a satellite navigation tracking system, which allows us to monitor the precise location of each vehicle throughout the day. This gives us the ability to provide all customers with accurate timings for their deliveries of meals, in the event of any delays due to traffic, weather or other factors. In the unlikely event of delay, our team will contact you to let you know the anticipated delivery time. Our vans undergo regular checks by our team and are meticulously serviced to ensure reliability.

Can we freeze/reheat the food?

All our dishes are produced to be eaten on the day of delivery at lunchtime – meals are not to be cooled down for reheating or freezing for consumption at a later time or date.

How quickly can we have a delivery?

Orders must be placed each week by 12 noon on the preceding Wednesday. However, alterations to your catering orders can be made up until 4pm the day before the delivery is due. If you need an emergency order, phone us the day before and, stock permitting, your food will be delivered by 12 o’clock the following day.

Can we use you to cover absence and holidays?

Educatering Solutions not only offer permanent nursery and schools catering contracts but if required for any reason, such as staff holidays or sickness, we can offer a temporary service to cover all your needs.

Menu Queries

What does a typical menu look like?

You can see our standard nursery catering menus here.

Is the food fresh?

We receive fresh ingredients daily and all our hot food is cooked on the day of delivery, to ensure quality and freshness.

Can we taste the food before we order?

Yes, please contact us to arrange a no-obligation taster session.

The best way to see how our nursery and school catering service might benefit you is to simply try it. Enjoy a selection of tasters from our current menus relating to nursery and school lunches. We would be delighted to pop in and visit your nursery in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and within the Thames Valley region.

How often does the menu change?

The menus for lunches and afternoon teas operate on a 3-weekly cycle and are changed three times a year, to ensure variety and incorporation of seasonal ingredients.

Do we have to follow the menu?

We have a set catering menu, but some ingredients may be substituted in accordance with specific dietary needs or culturally related requirements.

Please ask us for more information.

Where do you source your meat and ingredients?

We believe in the importance of promoting fresh, local food. Educatering Solutions works closely with local suppliers from Berkshire, thus ensuring we keep our ‘food miles’ to a minimum. This guarantees that we receive excellent quality fresh ingredients and services at a price that is fair to both parties.

Is your food healthy and nutritious?

We collaborate with a qualified nutritionist to ensure that our meals are low in salt and added sugars ensuring that they contain the right amount of nutrients to support the high energy requirements of pre-school and school children.