Fresh Start Terms Terms and Conditions for the Supply of School Meals

1. Introduction

These Terms and Conditions govern the supply of school meals by Fresh Start Catering Limited (“Fresh Start,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) to your child (the “Pupil”) at their school.

By placing an order for school meals through our Meal Manager system, you (“you” or “Parent”) agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and acknowledge that you have read, agree to and understood our Privacy & Cookie Policy, which can be found on our website.

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England.

2. Definitions

• Fresh Start: Fresh Start Catering Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 06198481, whose registered office is at Oxford Court, St James Rd, Brackley NN13 7XY.
• Meal: A pre-prepared meal provided by Fresh Start, consisting of a main course, and may include a dessert and/or side dish, as specified on the menu for the relevant day.
• Meal Manager: The online system provided by Fresh Start for Parents to order and manage school meals for their children.
• You or Parent: The parent, carer, or legal guardian of the Pupil who places the order for school meals.
• Pupil: The child for whom the school meal is ordered.
• School: The school attended by the Pupil where Fresh Start provides catering services.

3. Ordering School Meals

• Ordering Period: You can order meals by the day, week, or entire half-term, subject to the deadlines specified below.

Order Deadlines: Meal orders from the full menu must be placed by 9:00 AM on the Thursday of the preceding week. Orders placed after this deadline are subject to our Late Order Service, which has limited options.

• Payment: All meals must be paid for at the time of ordering through the Meal Manager system. The total amount payable will be clearly displayed in your basket and is calculated based on the number of meals ordered multiplied by the school meal price.
• Free School Meals: If your child qualifies for free school meals, you will not be charged for their meals. However, you must still place an order through Meal Manager to ensure your child receives a meal on the days they require one.
• Meal Provision: To ensure efficient service and minimise food waste, Fresh Start will only provide a school meal for your child on the days for which you have placed an order through Meal Manager. This applies to all pupils, regardless of whether they receive free school meals, or You pay for their meals.

4. Late Order Service

• Availability: A Late Order Service is available for same-day meal orders, allowing you to order a meal for your child up to 9:00 AM on the day it is required. Please note that the Late Order Service offers a restricted menu compared to our standard menu.
• Ordering Process: Late orders must be placed through Meal Manager, following the same ordering process as standard meal orders.

5. Confirming Meals

• Confirmation Required: To complete your order and ensure your child receives their meals, please confirm your selection in Meal Manager. Once confirmed, your order will be processed, and you’ll receive an email confirmation listing the meals you’ve ordered. Meals left in your basket without confirmation will not be processed.
• Payment for Confirmed Orders: For Pupils who do not qualify for free school meals, payment must be made in full for the order to be confirmed.

6. School Trip Days and Packed Lunch Provision

• Notification of School Trips: Fresh Start will endeavour to be informed of school trips by the School.
• Packed Lunch Option: Fresh Start may offer a set packed lunch as an alternative to a hot meal on school trip days. You can specify your packed lunch preferences in your Meal Manager account, including sandwich choices. Please note that drinks are not provided with packed lunches.
• No Refund for Unused Packed Lunches: If you opt for a packed lunch but the Pupil does not consume it, no refund will be issued.
• Packed Lunch Availability: Packed lunches are only available on days for which a meal order has been placed and paid for. If no meal order is in place, you are responsible for providing your own packed lunch for the school trip.
• Limitations on Packed Lunch Provision: Fresh Start may be unable to provide packed lunches in certain circumstances, such as early departures before 9:00 AM. We will notify you in advance if this is the case.
• Preference Updates: You can update your packed lunch preferences in your Meal Manager account, but changes must be made by 9:00 AM on the Thursday before the trip to guarantee they take effect.

7. Allergies and Special Dietary Requirements

• Notification of Allergies: You must inform Fresh Start of any allergies, intolerances, or special dietary requirements your child may have. You can do this by selecting the relevant options in Meal Manager and completing our Medical Allergy Form.
• Allergen Management: Fresh Start takes reasonable steps to manage allergens in our kitchens, including thorough cleaning of preparation areas and separation of ingredients. However, please note that our kitchens are not completely allergen-free environments. While we make every effort to minimise the risk of cross-contamination, we cannot guarantee that it will not occur.
• Airborne Allergens: We cannot accept responsibility for reactions caused by airborne allergens present in the kitchen environment.
• Meal Identification and Supervision: To help ensure pupils receive the correct meals, our head cook will distribute allergen-free meals, and pupils with allergies will be asked to wear a white band in addition to their standard coloured band. This helps our staff identify and support pupils with allergies. However, Fresh Start cannot be held responsible for actions outside our direct control, such as a child eating food from another child’s plate or receiving food from a non-Fresh Start employee.
• Seating Arrangements: While we encourage schools to consider seating arrangements for pupils with allergies, Fresh Start cannot be held responsible for pupils sitting near others with potentially allergenic meals.
• Further Information: Please refer to our Allergen Information page on our website for detailed information about allergen management.

8. Cancelling a Meal

• Cancellation Deadline: To cancel a pre-ordered meal, you must inform us in writing by 9:00 AM on the Thursday before the week of the meal.
• Cancellation Method: Cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected], stating the Pupil’s name, class, school, and the date of the meal to be cancelled.
• No Refund for Late Cancellations: Refunds will not be issued for meals cancelled after the deadline.

9. Refunds

• Refund Eligibility: Refunds are available for cancelled meals, provided the cancellation is made within the correct notice period (by 9:00 AM on the Thursday before the week of the meal) and the refund is requested within the same term as the original meal order.
• No Credit Offered: Fresh Start does not offer credit for cancelled meals.

10. Missed Deadlines

If you miss the order deadline, you are responsible for providing your child with an alternative lunch arrangement.

11. Limitation of Liability

• No Guarantees: Fresh Start makes no guarantees regarding the availability of specific menu items or the suitability of any meal for a particular dietary requirement.
• Exclusion of Liability: To the fullest extent permitted by law, Fresh Start excludes all liability for any loss, damage, injury, or expense arising from the supply or consumption of school meals, including but not limited to any indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, or damage to property.

12. Changes to Terms and Conditions

Fresh Start reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time. Any changes will be posted on our website, and your continued use of the Meal Manager system constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms and Conditions.  

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us at:

Fresh Start Catering Limited, Oxford Court, St James Rd, Brackley NN13 7XY

Email: [email protected]