School chef in line for award

The head chef at two Spalding special schools has been served up a nomination for a national award.

Helen Swanson oversees the cooking at The Priory and The Garth schools and is in line for the Newcomer of the Year in the Educating Excellence Awards.

The awards take place at the Royal Garden Hotel in London on October 8.

Helen said: “With the children’s needs in mind we have purposefully changed the menu gradually.

“We kept some original recipes, tweaking them slightly, and all dishes are now created each day using fresh ingredients.

“We have added an exciting new salad bar, and freshly made sauces and pastries.”

Specialities on Helen’s menu include fresh bread, basil wheels and feta and tomato breads too. She’s also shared a variety of exciting recipes with parents, carers and pupils.

Helen added: “The pupils have been quite forthcoming with feedback about the new menu so we thought it would be a nice idea to send some recipes home to cook themselves.”

Helen works alongside the fantastic catering team of Sharon Inglis, Marion Perkins, Lyn Ansell and Alison Thomas.

“We are a very good team, working very hard together to deliver great meals for the children.”

Daran Bland, Executive Head of the Spalding Special Schools Federation, said: “We are all really thrilled with Helen’s Educating Excellence Newcomer of the Year nomination.

“This is truly well deserved and testimony to the fact that meal provision has been totally transformed at the Priory and Garth Schools.

“In typical Helen fashion, when I congratulated her on her nomination, the first thing she mentioned was the support she receives from her catering team.

“Pupils and staff are really appreciating the wide range of healthy options, which are being cooked and prepared in a way that is convincing the most reluctant of picky eaters to try new foods… and enjoy them!

“Under Helen’s leadership, the energy, creativity and enthusiasm oozing out of the school kitchen is clear for all to see.”