At Litmus Partnership, we’ve always believed that the voices of pupils should sit at the heart of how schools shape their catering services. That’s why we’re excited to announce the upcoming launch of a brand-new Consumer Insight programme, designed specifically for special schools.
This one-of-a-kind programme takes a different approach to gathering feedback about the catering provision. Instead of relying on words and written surveys, it uses pictures as the main way of communication – making it more accessible, inclusive, and engaging for students with special needs.
Why Consumer Insight matters
For catering teams, it’s vital to understand how pupils feel about the food and dining experience on offer. Our Consumer Insight programmes give schools a clear picture of:
- How satisfied pupils are with the catering provision
- Which aspects of the service could be improved
- What changes would make the biggest difference to their mealtimes
A key point of difference is that because we work with a wide range of schools, we’re able to benchmark the findings against other schools, providing valuable context and helping catering teams see how their service compares.
Designed with inclusivity in mind
For special schools, traditional surveys often aren’t the best way to capture pupil voice. That’s where our new picture-led approach comes in. By using images rather than words, pupils can more easily express their views on food choices, portion sizes, dining spaces, and more.
The programme can also be used in conjunction with bespoke support tools that schools already use, such as Talking Mats, allowing even more students to participate meaningfully in the process.
Driving meaningful change
Once insights are gathered, schools can use the findings to shape and improve their catering provision with real confidence. From menu adjustments to the dining environment, the results point directly to the areas that matter most to pupils.
Whilst this latest programme has been designed around a picture-based format, we also welcome the opportunity to work with schools to create bespoke solutions that best meet the needs of their pupils.
We’re excited to be bringing this new initiative to special schools very soon. Keep an eye on our website and channels for more details about the launch and how your school can get involved.
The Litmus team