ParentPay

To make it more convenient for parents to pay for school meals, trips, after school clubs and much more online, we use a secure online service called ParentPay.  We therefore no longer accept cash and cheque payments, except for meals via the revaluation machines.  This  helps make the school a cash-free environment.  Parents who wish to continue making payments by cash may do so by either using the revaluation pay points in school or the PayPoint network at local convenience stores:-

• McColls Matchborough Centre
• Spar Winyates Centre
• One Stop Winyates Centre
• Costers Convenience Costers Lane

To make life even easier, if you have more than one child in our school or children at other ParentPay schools, you can create just the one account for all your children.

To register please send an email to parentpay@arrowvaleacadedy.co.uk with your name, email address, your child(rens)’s name and tutor group.  If you require a Paypoint card please also confirm this in the email.

How to get started with Parentpay…

Once you have been registerd and received your activiation username and password, you can:

• Visit www.parentpay.com
• Enter your Activation username and password in the Account Login section of the homepage.  NB. These are for one-time use only, you will choose your own username and password for future access during the activation process
• Provide all the necessary information and choose your new username and password for your account – registering your email address will enable us to send you receipts and reminders
• Once activation is complete you can go to straight to Items for payment, select which item(s) you want to add to your basket and proceed to complete your payment

For further information please click the links below:

• Parent Information Sheet
• Click here for ParentPay login

Cashless Catering (Biometric System)

We also operate a cashless catering system, which provides a more efficient, faster and ultimately better quality of service.  This system incorporates the latest technology and eliminates the need for students to carry cash throughout the day thus reducing the risk of bullying.  It is also biometric (see Information sheet below) so there is no need for students to carry a card as the system will recognise the thumb of your child at the revaluation pay points and at the tills.

It is our intention to register new students on the transfer days 13th and 14th July, and as such no cash will be accepted at the Till Points once they return in September. All students will be given training on how to use the system.

Any amount of money can be paid into a student’s account using the revaluation pay points in school, and any money spent on food & drink will be deducted on a daily basis.

The benefits that the biometric system brings to the school and your child are:

• Specific food allergy requirements can be automatically identified in the system.
• Healthy eating is encouraged.
• Discourages the misuse of school dinner money through spending in shops outside of the school grounds.
• Alleviates many of the associated problems with the use of cash in schools, i.e. loss, theft and bullying.
• Queuing times are reduced through increased speed of service.
• Automatic free meal allocation with the student remaining anonymous.
• Students control their own accounts, teaching them important life skills.
• A more efficient delivery of service helps the canteen to provide wholesome, healthy and enjoyable school meals at a lower cost.
• Ability to confirm money paid into the accounts and various other reports on all aspects of the system.

What is Biometric?

Biometric is simply a method of identifying an individual person.  We will be using an algorithm based scan, which reads between 50 &130 points on the finger/thumb.  It is not a fingerprint in any way, shape or form and is only used in the cashless system.   See example below

For Further information click below:-

• Parent Information Sheet – Cashless Catering

Free School Meals

Is your son/daughter missing out on money they are entitled to which will increase their chances of success in their education?

If you are in receipt of any of the following your son/daughter may be entitled to free school meals…

• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income that does not exceed £16,190.00.)
• Working tax credit run-on; paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal credit

…and therefore be entitled to the Pupil Premium

• Free School Meals Letter
• FSM Application Form (April 2016)

If you think you are eligible, complete the application forms and send it to Babcock Prime, Prime House, Unit 1 Woodbury Lane, Norton, Worcester WR5 2PT.  You can also access an electronic version by clicking here or contact the Free School Meals Team on Tel: 01905 766182 or email primefreeschoolmeals@babcockinternational.com to find out if you qualify.

Weekly Menu

Click HERE to view the Weekly Menu

Alliance in Partnership, Specialists in Education Catering

Special Dietary Information for Secondary Schools with Cashless Catering

 In adherence with the allergy regulations, which came into effect in December 2014, Alliance in Partnership (AiP) can provide a full and detailed listing of allergens present within our menu range we serve at each school. Each kitchen has listings highlighting any of the 14 EU regulated allergens present in our menu. Further extensive ingredient lists are present on site or with the Nutrition Team in our head office. All of this material is available upon request from the kitchen manager, or from our Quality and Nutrition Manager at allergens@ainp.co.uk.

Any student who has a medical allergy, needs to inform the School who will detail that information on the School Sims system. This information will then be inputted into the cashless system to help aide students at service time.

Once this information is active on the cashless system, the kitchen will support the student in making the correct choices. This does include double-checking items the students have chosen at the till. For example: if a student is identified as having a dairy allergy and chooses cheese on toast the student will be advised to choose another item and one that excludes dairy. The onus is with the student to make an informed decision based on their own understanding of their allergy.

Items that are naturally Gluten or Dairy free are highlighted with signs on the service counter to aid student choice. We do not specifically provide an allergy free menu on a daily basis.

Regarding Nuts

We don’t use any nuts (either peanut or any tree nuts) in our kitchens. Neither do we use any ingredients that contain nuts in our kitchens.

May Contain Labels

All our kitchens purchase ingredients from a centralised buying list. Each item is analysed by a nutritionist before being allowed on the list. Any item that carries a ‘may contain’ label is researched with the manufacturer before being allowed on the list. We may only allow items that carry a ‘may contain’ label if the manufacturer can provide proof that nuts are produced in a separate manufacturing building or area. We do not allow items carrying the ‘may contain’ label where the product is produced on the same production line.

Coconut – Coconut is not considered a nut and does not fall into the peanut or tree nut allergy categories. We do use coconut in our kitchens.

Sesame – All our kitchens do contain Sesame.

If you have any further questions regarding our policy, our nutritionist will be happy to speak with you. You may contact us at allergens@ainp.co.uk or 0121 420 3030.