Cashless Catering
St Benedict’s operates a cashless catering system which provides the school with an efficient, fast and improved quality of service. The benefits of using this system are that it incorporates the latest technology and eliminates the need for pupils to carry cash throughout the day thus reducing the risk of bullying.
The system is biometric so there is no need for pupils to carry a card as it will recognise the thumb print of your child at the revaluation points and at the tills. Please be assured that this information remains within the school and that the biometric information taken is an algorithm and not an actual image of a fingerprint.
All students will be given training on how to use the system. Any amount of money can be paid into a pupil’s account and any money spent on food and drink will be deducted on a daily basis. If required a daily ‘spend limit’ can be programmed into the system. This can be increased or decreased for an individual student by making a written request to the school finance office. At present top up process is via ParentPay.
As per current legislation we will be operating an ‘Opt In’ policy and therefore require you to complete the attached form. If you choose not to have your child registered on the Biometric System a PIN code will be allocated. Please note that PIN codes do not have the same level of security and it will be your child’s responsibility to remember the code and keep it secure at all times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cashless system?
A Cashless Catering System is a solution which is purpose designed to meet the ever evolving needs and demands of the catering provision, required by today’s schools and academies. The Cunningham's CRB Cashless Solution allows St Benedict’s to provide our students and staff with a faster, more efficient and more appealing meal service.
What is ‘biometric?’
Biometric is simply a method of identifying an individual person. The Trust-e Cashless System uses and algorithm based scan, which reads between 50 and 130 points on the finger/thumb. It is not a fingerprint in any way, shape or form and is of use only in the Cashless System. Biometric is simply a method of identifying an individual person. The Trust-e Cashless System uses and algorithm based scan, which reads between 50 and 130 points on the finger/thumb. It is not a fingerprint in any way, shape or form and is of use only in the Cashless System.
How does a biometric system work?
The information of a pupil or staff member, who has been biometrically registered, is stored on a secure biometric controller within the school, which only your provider, Nationwide Retail Systems, can access with permission from the school. Once an account is credited, the pupil or staff member places their finger/thumb on the EPOS Terminal Biometric Reader, which looks up their account and allows them to purchase items using only this method of identification.
How does my child register on the biometric system?
Registration days will take place. During these days, registration terminals will be placed in the school. Your child will attend at a requested time and will be required to place their finger/thumb on the Biometric Reader twice to obtain a matching template, which only takes a few seconds. If you have chosen to opt-out of this procedure, your child will be presented with a 4 digit PIN code.
What methods of payment can be used to credit an account?
Accounts can be topped up online. Once an account has been credited, the monies cannot be withdrawn and must be spent on the school meal/break services. We have introduced online payments in partnership with the Cashless Catering software, Cunningham’s CRB. To make a payment online please use our ParentPay facility.
How can I check the credit on an account?
Balances can be checked online via ParentPay or by students placing their finger/thumb on the Balance Checker screen in school.
How do ‘free meal’ entitlements work?
All free meal entitlements will be entered on to the system prior to the ‘live’ day. The Cashless Catering System will, on a daily basis, automatically allocate the appropriate accounts with the free school meal amounts. Pupils with FSM entitlement remain anonymous at all times as all account types are accessed in the exact same manner, regardless of whether paid for or not. Please note that any monies not spent from the daily free meal allocation will not be carried over to the next day.
Can anyone else use my child’s account?
No – due to the security provided by using biometric readers, no-one will be able to access your child’s account. This is only a possibility if the biometric system isn’t used and the personalised pin code is shared.