Dear Parents and Carers,
When we move to our new building, we will introduce a cashless catering system. The system is already in operation in many schools and means that students will no longer pay for their food at the till with cash. A biometric payment system will operate, with students using either online systems or an onsite cash loader to credit their account. This will be a more efficient system, resulting in faster service, shorter queues and will enable parents to see exactly what their children are spending their lunch money on each day.
Below is some important information and FAQs that will help to ensure that your child is able to use the cashless catering system on their first day in the new building on 2 March 2017.
Q: How does my child pay for food and drink if cash is no longer accepted at the till?
The system works with ParentPay, an online payment provider. This is a very easy to use, online system that enables you to top-up your child’s account and also view what your child has eaten during the day/week. If you do not currently use ParentPay, please email finance@workingtonacademy.org and we will send you a username, password and details of how to use ParentPay to credit your child’s account.
Q: How does my child pay when they reach the till?
Before we move into the new building, students and staff will have their finger scanned using a biometric scanner. This will enable the cashless catering system to link each student and staff member to their account. When the finger is scanned, the system transforms it into a mathematical formula and the original scan is discarded, meaning that the finger scan cannot be used for any other purpose than our cashless catering system.
When students arrives at the till, they put their finger on a biometric reader (shown below) that links them to their account. The cost of their food and drink is then deducted from their account at the cashless till and this is how they pay. Parents and carers should ensure that student accounts are in credit by 2 March 2017 as this is the first day of cashless catering in our new building.
Finger scanning for staff and students is scheduled to take place on 26 January 2017. If you do not want your child to have their finger scanned, please let us know before 13 January 2017 by emailing office@workingtonacademy.org or you can write to us at the address on this letter.
Q: What happens when my child leaves the academy?
Their cashless catering data is deleted from the system.
Q: What happens if I do not have internet access and can’t use ParentPay?
The new academy will have 3 machines onsite. When the student or staff member puts their finger onto the biometric reader on the machine, it will connect to their account and they can use cash to credit their account.
If you have any questions or queries about ParentPay or cashless catering, please contact Mrs Sarah Allison – Academy Business Manager: 01900 733925 or email
sallison@workingtonacademy.org
Yours faithfully
Mrs Colette Macklin
Interim Headteacher
