DINNER money is to be a thing of the past after it was agreed to introduce a cashless system for primary and special school meals.
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Council chiefs hope the move will stop pupils being targeted by bullies for meal cash – but youngsters could have no choice but to have the meal selected by parents.
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council said it would cut down on administration and allow closer monitoring of owed cash, currently £30,000.
It would also speed up dinner queues and “enhance security” by linking the card to a photograph of the child at the register.
A council report said: “At present most pupils carry cash with them to school to pay for their meals, which can leave pupils vulnerable to theft and bullying.”
It adds schools “want to monitor the take-up of school meals more closely, including knowing what the pupils are eating and incorporate information into the curriculum”.
And the move would remove the stigma from poorer pupils who get free school meals and potentially lower meal prices as £367,000 annual savings are made. Meal prices rose recently.
Payment history and meal information could be available online for parents, it adds and they could use it to specify dietry requirements.
Another report says: “Parents can also be rest assured that if a child tries to make a food purchase that disagrees to their dietary requirements the system will not allow the transaction to be completed forcing the child to take up a suitable meal.
“Parents have the assurance that their child is spending money on a healthy, nutritionally balanced meal.”
It would also stop children spending money on other things instead of food, the council said. Parents will top up credits at 56 PayPoint outlets.
The service would cost £363,000 to set up and save staff costs, it adds.
