1. How does the cash deposit machine work?
Firstly the student puts their finger on the fingerprint reader mounted on the Cash Deposit Machine to enter the I.M.P.A.C.T system which will display the pupil’s name and current cash balance held within the system.

Secondly the student inserts coins or notes are into the slot. Each additional cash balance will show on the display. The student then presses the red button to tell the system that the transaction is complete.

2. How will the student be able to check the current cash balance held in their account at any one time?

(a) By using the cash deposit machine. Placing their finger on the fingerprint reader will display the current cash balance. There is no need to deposit any money to check a balance. The student needs to remember to press the red button once they have finished checking to tell the machine that their enquiry is complete.

(b) A Remote Display will show the new cash balance after the student has purchased food

3. If a parent pays for a set number of school meals at the beginning of the week or the month, can the total amount be spent in one day by the student?
No, a daily spend limit of £ 4.00 (or a selected amount) will be set for all students and no food purchase above that limit can be bought. On request, an individual student limit of your choice could also be set, to include a school dinner and break time snacks.

Parents must apply for any such limit in writing to the catering manager.

4. What if the student does not hold a sufficient cash balance one day to pay for a school dinner?
No student is refused a school dinner because they have forgotten to bring their dinner money to school. In all genuine cases, the school will allow for the student to borrow money for one day. However, in the same way that the system operates now, the student would be expected to bring sufficient money with them the next day to repay the loan and re-credit the system by using the cash deposit machine or by cheque payment to ‘Taylor Shaw ’. Taylor Shaw is the catering company employed by Broughton Hall High School.

5. This all sounds very well, but what about students who are entitled to a ‘free school meal’?
The system works exactly the same for all students whether they pay or have a free school meal. The amount allocated for the free school meal will be entered into the system daily providing the school has received an appropriate application from parents/carers for a student to receive a free school meal. The allowance will only be accessible at dinner break.

The system will then allow, on a daily basis, the required cash amount for each individual student to be allotted to their free school meal allowance. However, any under spend or missed dinner will be identified by the system and will not be added to the next day’s balance.

The student can also add extra cash on to his or her balance in the system by using the cash deposit station, to enable a greater daily spend on the school dinner than allocated by their free meal allowance. As this allowance can only be spent on a school dinner, extra cash added into the system can also be used for break time snacks.

There will be no more queuing to be issued a ‘free meal’ tickets or having the student’s name entered into the ‘free meal’ register at the till point.

6. How will ‘healthy eating’ be encouraged?
After the new system has been operating for a while, we hope to enhance the school’s ‘healthy eating policy’. When the food is selected on the canteen server’s keypad, it will also register points for a balanced, healthy and nutritious school dinner. At the end of the term the top scoring pupils will be identified and the winner will receive an award.

7. What is meant by ‘dietary control’?
Should the student have a specific food allergy, or be a diagnosed diabetic, this medical information can be coded into the system, preventing foods with allergy ingredients from being served to a particular student, by automatically locking out relevant buttons on the keyboard.

8. Will students have problems in managing their accounts on the system?
Some students may find it difficult to control their accounts for the first couple of weeks, but because of a daily spend limit, most learn this important life skill very quickly and will enjoy being in control of their account.

9. Will parents be able to have any information on how the system is being used?
Reports can be obtained from the system giving comprehensive information on all aspects of use for each individual student as well as each day’s service. These reports can be for a specific day or between any dates you wish. They will be dated and timed, and can be obtained upon application in writing from parents / carers from the Catering Department.

10. Why does the system require to take fingerprints?
By taking an image of the user’s fingerprint, the information is turned into a unique and individual signature. This ensures speed and security.

11. Can fingerprints be used by any other agency?
No. The software used in the system turns the fingerprint into a mathematical formula or pattern called an algorithm. The image is then discarded and the information stored cannot be used to recreate an image of the fingerprint, so it is quite safe.

12. What happens when the student leaves Broughton Hall?
There is no longer a requirement for the fingerprint pattern data and it will be deleted.

13. What happens if I do not want my daughter to participate in the biometric system?
The system provider has found it rare for parents to opt out of the scheme. However, if an opt out form is completed, it will mean that another method of identification will have to be found for your daughter, as cash cannot be accepted at the point of sale after 5th January 2009. This may slow down the method for your daughter to obtain food and drink in the dining room and the school may require parental contribution toward providing an alternative individual system.