Introduction to the Cashless System Procurement Toolkit.

In September 2006 the government introduced mandatory school meals standards to be phased into all local authority schools by 2009. The national aim was to increase the uptake of paid meals by 10% and the uptake of free school meals to100% for entitled pupils.

In July 2006 the Leeds School Meals Team was appointed with the brief to ‘take the strategic lead, champion and drive forward a collaborative strategy for the transformation of all school food and drink that achieves the best possible outcomes for the young people of Leeds.'

The Leeds School Meals Strategy responds to the government’s commitment to transform school food, which offers an approach to sustain the new mandatory school meal standards, whilst ensuring best possible outcomes for children and young people.

Additional information of the Leeds School Meals Strategy is available on the web site, together with a range of other useful documents and resources designed to offer schools, families and partners support and guidance. www.educationleeds.co.uk/schoolmeals

This guidance to schools offers impartial information to advise and support the selection and procurement of a cashless system. It has been designed as a one-stop-shop to enable schools to make an informed judgment on the choice and benefits of a cashless school meals system. Considerations to procure and implement these systems have financial implications, therefore it is important that that schools are well informed in order to make the right choice.

The Leeds school meals team would like to thank Woodkirk High school for their contribution to help inform this guidance and implementation document. It is aimed at secondary school head teachers, governors, bursars, catering providers and site managers who may be considering introducing a cashless system. It is intended to provide them with what they need to know about cashless systems, and to advise them on what steps they need to take to implement it successfully. The guidance also offers insights into two different types of cashless systems in order to inform their decision making, offering practical and technical guidance by exploring and discussing key aspects that should be considered during the early planning and decision making stages. It highlights a range of possible benefits and limitations of each type of system i.e. biometric technology or swipe card, to inform procurement and includes samples of letters used during the pilot, and a pupil questionnaire for use in the evaluation process.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CASHLESS SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION AND PROCUREMENT TOOLKIT

Contacts

Rosemary Molinari
School meals strategy adviser
Phone: 0113 224 3779
Mobile: 07891 279922
Email: rosemary.molinari@educationleeds.co.uk

Sheila Goodwin
Commissioning Procurement and Business Development
Phone: 0113 2475596
Email: sheila.goodwin@educationleeds.co.uk

Ian Westlake
Commissioning Procurement and Business Development
Phone: 0113 2475268
Email ian.westlake@educationleeds.co.uk