Paying online for meals at secondary school on the increase

Increase in online payments for secondary school meals

More parents and guardians than ever before are choosing to pay for secondary school meals online, thanks to our easy -to-use, cashless catering system.

Online payments have surged month-on-month with October rising by 38 per cent - in volume and value - when compared with the same time last year.

The cashless catering system allows students to purchase food and drinks without carrying cash around. Instead, students can pay for meals using their Young Scot National Entitlement Card. Money can then be loaded onto the cards using the council e-Shop and then used to pay for the meals.

It’s not just the convenience of the online payments that is proving a hit with families. Parents have transparency on where the school dinner money is being spent and their children are being provided with healthy food at school.

Graeme, whose daughter is student at Elgin High School, is delighted with how paying online has made it easier for him to manage her school meals: ‘Paying online is so convenient and such a simple process. I can top-up at anytime, anywhere … usually on my phone when I’m walking to work. Credit reaches my daughter’s card on the same day, as long as it’s paid before 9.10am. It’s a relief to know that good, balanced meal options are available at school every day. It’s just one less thing for me to worry about.’

Moray Council’s officer responsible for school catering, Susan May, said: “We pride ourselves on providing freshly prepared, nutritious meal choices for students, and having a seamless process for their parents and guardians to pay for them works for everyone.”

Moray Council’s cashless catering system is just one of many services now provided online as part of the Moray Connected project. Moray Connected aims to provide as much online to help people manage their council services, simply, safely and at a time convenient to them.

Find out more here