Peacocks

[Alis girls]

Does anyone have this at their childs school. Its where the child has an account and use their fingerprint to purchase food for which parent sets up an account. My son swears he doesnt eat vast amounts and his choice history suggests the same but the money dwindles rapidly - £22 in one day and despite emails I never seem to get a sensible answer.

[clootie]

My goodness I've never heard of this before!! £22? In one day? Is he treating all his friends too? Open to problems I'd say

[Sam Palmer]

My sons school has this too and they police it very well. The school puts a limit on how much they can spend in a day and parents can too. I've set it at £3 (it was £2.50 originally - inflation ). As it shows how much they've already spent that day including what they're about to purchase, when they get to the till, the canteen staff will not let them buy everything they have if they've gone over their limit.

I did have an issue a few months ago where the totals when I looked online, bore no relevance to what the boys told me they had on their fingers. (Several amounts I'd put on were just sitting there and hadn't reduced as the boys had used them). However, the school were really good and got straight back to me and sorted it out.

[snowberry]

£22!!!!

[Chucky Mama]

£22 I smell a rat. I only use Parent Pay for school trips but I am pretty sure that our school has an upper limit on how much can be spent on school dinner to prevent this sort of thing. I would see if you can speak to someone at Parent Pay and also speak to the school and school kitchen staff, they are usually well aware of individual pupils eating habits.

[Sam Palmer]

My sons school has this too and they police it very well. The school puts a limit on how much they can spend in a day and parents can too. I've set it at £3 (it was £2.50 originally - inflation ). As it shows how much they've already spent that day including what they're about to purchase, when they get to the till, the canteen staff will not let them buy everything they have if they've gone over their limit.

I did have an issue a few months ago where the totals when I looked online, bore no relevance to what the boys told me they had on their fingers. (Several amounts I'd put on were just sitting there and hadn't reduced as the boys had used them). However, the school were really good and got straight back to me and sorted it out.

 

By the way I should say, whether I pay for their lunch money via the internet or they take cash or a cheque in to top it up, it gets treated the same way and I've never had a problem with it.

[Chucky Mama]

I have just had a look at my Parent Pay and there is a 'show analysis' button under 'menus' does that show you what they have eaten? I can't see on mine as my children don't have school dinners. Have a look and maybe you can see exactly where the money has gone.

[SarahJo]

ES uses the fingerprint thing. He was spending nearly £4 a day - until we realised the drinks were almost £1

He now has a pasta pot and takes his own drink. He now only spends £2 average

[The Dogmother]

Rosie has something called Squid, which her Dad and I take it in turns to top up.

 

I can see exactly what she's bought on any day and I haven't had any problems with money being taken off when it shouldn't.

[keyhole kate]

£22!!!! Come on I know he's a lad and they have hollow legs but seriously there has to be a gremlin

In my kids days it was dinner tickets following that smart cards which were pre loaded with credit

Edited October 5, 2011 by Guest

[Alis girls]

I have found out the £22 in one day was a mistake - phew.

I like the idea of a set amount I will email them re this. I send him with snacks so he shouldnt be that hungry but the system has had probs - at the beginning of term it wouldnt work so you couldnt credit it. I dont want him to go hungry and when hes got a lot of kit - heavy sarnies just add to the load thats what he tells me. Thanks for replying I will see if anyone up at school has had probs. cant be the only one. The woman emailed me back his food choices and payment - prob thinking typical mum of teen boy - doesnt know how much they consume

[Sam]

We've had this at our school for a while now, quite handy if you need a new pen or something so just pop to the library and buy one!

 

I buy a salad everyday so only spend 95p Think theres a cap of £5, you could buy a full breakfast, snack lunch & drink so I guess that's a reasonable limit.

[Willow]

They have this at my boys school but it won't accept my email address to register so only my OH can load it up and check what they have been eating. My younger son was using his to buy food for a friend of his whose parents hadn't accepted he was heading towards being a teen and weren't sending him in with enough food and hadn't loaded him up with any spending allowance I have got him to persuade his friend he needs to talk to his parents as they can't go on thinking he needs the same amount of food as when he was at primary school.