Schools, colleges and even universities have countless moving parts throughout the day. From INSET days and teacher training to staff meetings, conferences, open days, parent events and end-of-term occasions, there’s always a reason for good catering.
When you find the right caterer, organising breakfast, lunch or snacks for teaching staff and visitors feels less of an administrative task, and more like something to look forward to.
Good school event catering should be easy to order, simple to serve, suitable for different dietary requirements and delivered to fit the school’s schedule.
When might a school need external catering?
Schools may need food for events where staff and teachers are on site for longer than usual, particularly for training and meeting days.
INSET and teacher training days
Whole-school training days can run for most of the day, so providing breakfast or lunch means staff can stay on site rather than leaving to find food. Catering can help keep the day’s schedule running smoothly.
Leadership and governor meetings
Schools may need catering for meetings involving senior leadership teams, governors, trustees or academy trust representatives. Professionally presented food can be appropriate for these more formal board meetings.
Staff meetings and working lunches
Food needs to be easy to serve and eat when the meeting schedule needs to continue without a long interruption. Working lunches can be a convenient option when staff need to eat while continuing with the day’s agenda. And although we don’t claim to have the best snacks for teachers, we have some delicious options to keep energy up throughout the day.
Conferences and multi-school events
Larger events may bring together governors, academy trust teams, external speakers or staff from several schools. These events require catering that can accommodate larger numbers efficiently.
Open days and special events
Open evenings, staff celebrations, retirement or leaving events and end-of-term occasions are examples of where more informal or celebratory catering might be appropriate.
Classic Menu 1
A lighter lunch, freshly prepared and ideal for meetings (Minimum Order 4) Product may differ from image
Working Lunch 1
Working lunch, freshly prepared and ideal for meetings (Minimum order 4) Product may differ from image
How to plan catering for an INSET or teacher training day
It’s important to confirm the number of people attending, when food needs to arrive and when staff will be eating. Decide whether the event requires breakfast, lunch, refreshments or multiple servings during the day.
You should also check whether everyone will have their break at the same time or whether departments have staggered schedules, as this can affect the most suitable catering format.
Consider how the food will be served. A buffet may work when everyone eats together, while individual portions can be easier when staff have different break times.
Confirm dietary requirements before ordering and arrange delivery around the school’s timetable.
What type of catering works best for school events?
There is no single format for every school event.
The right option depends on:
- the number of people
- timing
- and type of event
Breakfasts for early starts
Breakfast catering can be useful for early staff meetings, training sessions and staff briefings with continental or hot breakfast options available.
Buffets for INSET days and staff lunches
Buffets are useful when a larger group needs feeding without organising a formal sit-down meal.
Buffet platters can allow people to choose what they want while making serving straightforward. This format works particularly well when staff eat together during an INSET day or meeting.
Individually boxed lunches
Individual salads bowls and buffet boxes can be more practical when departments have staggered breaks or training sessions have tight schedules. Individual portions can make distribution quicker and reduce the need for a communal serving area. They can also make it easier to identify dietary requirements where meals are ordered separately.
Something different for staff celebrations
School catering does not always have to be a conventional lunch. Grazing boards, an office afternoon tea or employee appreciation snacks can be a great choice when celebrating staff achievements, end-of-term events, retirement or leaving celebrations.
Don't forget dietary requirements and allergens!
Dietary requirements should be established before the catering order is placed rather than dealt with on the day.
You need to be aware of anyone requiring vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free meals. It is also important to think about allergies and any other specific dietary requirements.
The school should give the caterer accurate information about requirements and attendee numbers. Clear allergen information and labelling can help staff identify suitable food when it is delivered and served.
How much food should you order for a school event?
Confirm the number of attendees and allow for anyone requiring a specific dietary option. Consider how long the event lasts and whether you’re serving breakfast for the office, lunch or an afternoon break.
Establish whether the catering is replacing a full meal or simply providing refreshments, as this affects how much food is needed.
Ordering too much creates unnecessary expense and food waste, while ordering too little can leave attendees without enough to eat. The quantity should reflect the event schedule, meal type and confirmed attendance.
What should you look for when choosing catering for a school?
Reliable delivery is important as food needs to arrive when the school has arranged for it to be served. There also needs to be an easy ordering process to avoid unnecessary administration for school staff.
It is important to look for a choice of options for different group sizes. The caterer should accommodate smaller meetings as well as larger events.
There should be options for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and other requirements, as well as easy-to-serve food formats that work with the time and space available.
You should also check whether the caterer delivers to the school’s postcode before placing the order.
Catering for your next school meeting or event
Our school catering solutions should make organising an event much easier, rather than create more work. Posh Nosh provides buffets, breakfasts, grazing boards, afternoon tea, individual salads and special dietary options.
We provide delivery based on postcode across parts of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. Get in touch to discuss your next school meeting, training day or event.
Frequently Asked Questions
