Managing food safety across multiple school sites is no small task – especially when each kitchen serves pupils with special educational needs, where safety, consistency, and compliance are paramount.
For Eastern Education Group, which operates seven schools across Suffolk and Norfolk, paper-based food safety records were slowing things down. Staff spent valuable time completing manual checks, and managers were driving between schools just to collect paperwork. Weekly audits were time-consuming, and paper records left room for human error or even falsification.
Moving from Paper to Digital Confidence
In 2023, EEG SEND introduced the Kelsius FoodCheck 2.0 digital food safety system across its in-house catering kitchens. The rollout was carefully planned around school schedules, allowing staff to learn the system with minimal disruption. Training was simple and quick – most users preferred it to the old paper methods within days.
Today, audits that once took hours are done remotely in minutes. Management receive automated weekly reports, saving around three to four hours per week, while school catering teams save 30-40 minutes a day on checks.
Measurable Results
- Instant oversight across multiple schools
- Paper falsification eliminated – all records timestamped
- £300–£400 in stock saved through early freezer alerts
- EHOs impressed by transparency and ease of digital audits
- Sustainability gains through reduced paper and ink use
Protecting Pupils and Preventing Waste
For SEND pupils, safeguarding extends to every part of the day including mealtimes. Accurate, digital food safety records give EEG SEND leadership confidence that standards are upheld across every kitchen, every day. When equipment fails, automatic alerts prevent costly food waste and protect supply continuity.
SEND Catering Manager Sarah Stannard commented, “It’s more trustworthy because the information can’t be falsified, it must be done on the day. I can now audit weekly without travelling between sites, saving hours each week. We’ve even saved hundreds of pounds in stock when freezers failed, thanks to instant alerts. I wouldn’t go back to paper.”
A Smarter, Safer, More Sustainable Future
Kelsius FoodCheck 2.0 has become integral to EEG SEND’s catering operations – helping staff work smarter, protecting pupils, and giving managers complete peace of mind.
By going digital, EEG SEND has improved efficiency, compliance, and sustainability – proving that technology and care can go hand in hand in education catering.
