Broadbottom C of E Primary School Case Study

Broadbottom C of E Primary School is a charming Church of England school nestled in the picturesque semi-rural village of Broadbottom. Situated near the River Etherow and close to Hyde in Greater Manchester, the school has been an integral part of the community since its opening in 1898. Today, it provides education for 86 pupils aged 4 to 11 years.

Scope of Works

Totally Local Company began providing School Meals Catering Services to Broadbottom Primary School in January 2025.

At Totally Local Company, we are dedicated to nourishing children across Greater Manchester and beyond with delicious, balanced meals that support their growth and development.

We believe in a whole school approach, recognising that every child deserves access to high-quality, inclusive food options. Our carefully crafted menus cater to diverse dietary needs and preferences, ensuring that no child is left behind, and every meal promotes health and well-being.

Challenges
Prior to the transition, the school was looking for their new catering services to settle in quickly and to provide a variety of menus to cater for all the children’s needs.

Key to the service was also recognising the catering requirements for children with allergies and ensuring that ingredients are filtered correctly to identify which foods can be served to some children with specific allergies.

Successes

Since Totally Local Company took over the school’s catering service, the school have been delighted with the service.

• There is a noticeable aroma from the kitchen which travels across the school, and this makes mealtimes very inviting for the children.
• The uptake of fruit consumption among children has increased.
• The school has successfully addressed food allergy concerns by collaborating closely with parents and the School Catering Management team.
• The school kitchen is maintaining a five-star hygiene rating, demonstrating a remarkable example of food safety and quality.

Images: Tasty dishes on the menu include Chicken Curry, Boiled Rice, Broccoli and Risotto.

Testimonial

During a recent visit to the school, we spoke with Joanne Marrow, Headteacher at Broadbottom Primary School. She expressed her enthusiasm for the catering service provision:

“I am delighted with the catering services provided by Totally Local Company. When you walk into the school, you are immediately greeted with the beautiful aroma of freshly prepared food, which excites the children and gets their taste buds going.

Our Mobile Cook, Kapinga, is incredibly creative, preparing vibrant Mediterranean-inspired dishes that are fresh and appealing. The salads are finely chopped and presented in a way that makes them easy and enjoyable for children to eat. We have seen an increase in the uptake of children eating fruits, due to the presentation of the fruits, which has naturally reduced the children’s inclination to eat biscuits. There is plenty of variety, and the children absolutely love the fruit.”

Images: Fresh fruit is presented beautifully, and the children love it!

Joanne also highlighted the impact on food allergy management:

“The school and Totally Local Company’s Catering Management team have worked closely with parents to resolve any allergy-related issues. Another fantastic aspect is the way our Cook interacts with the children. Kapinga is kind and caring, and her warm manner creates a wonderful atmosphere”

The proof of the pudding is in the eating! And we are very pleased with the excellent catering services in school”.

Images: Children enjoying their school meals.

Conclusion
We are delighted that the partnership between Broadbottom C of E Primary School and Totally Local Company is working well and thriving.

Our commitment to exceptional catering services goes beyond just feeding children; we strive to bring everyone together through the shared enjoyment of wholesome meals and making a lasting impact on the lives of children, one nutritious meal at a time.