Essex school dinners get cashless payment systems

24th November 2009, 9:21am

Essex County Council has partnered with Toshiba TEC, MH Systems and HPort to provide a completely cashless catering system for school dinners.

Initially installed at the Philip Morant School the new system has increased the number of pupils using the canteen by 50% and transaction time at the canteen's three tills has got quicker allowing 800 pupils through every 20 minutes.

Parents can load the required amount of cash onto their children's school cash cards via ParentPay or credit or debit cards at the school reception.

As the process is real time money is available immediately and whenever a transaction is made the amount is then taken from the account.

Because the money on the card is only available to spend in the school, parents do not have to worry that the cash they give their children will be spent elsewhere. The cards are also personalised with student images therefore cannot be used by anyone else.

Sheila Verrall, catering manager of Philip Morant School explained more: "Parent feedback to the cashless catering system has been tremendous - with some 85% of parents readily adopting the scheme. We've encouraged the remainder to provide packed lunches in order for the school to eventually become totally cashless."

Related Articles:

• 01 Apr 2010 - Pupils should have access to free healthy school dinners, says survey
• 04 Feb 2010 - Doncaster school wins £5,000 prize for healthy dinners
• 20 Jan 2010 - Cashless catering introduced in Thurrock school
• 16 Nov 2009 - Cashless school meals system finalist in BETT Awards 2010
• 23 Jan 2009 - Croydon wins national award for cashless payments
• 17 Mar 2008 - Mother calls for cashless school dinners review
• 23 Oct 2007 - Jerry Brand moves into e-procurement

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