Powys schools to go ‘cashless’ as part of pilot scheme

A new cashless system is to be piloted at schools in the south of Powys. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Powys County Council has been exploring a new system to allow cashless payments for a range of transactions in schools including school meals and other parental payments. The aim is to reduce the risks and costs of cash handling and transactions as well making the payment process consistent and easier for all involved. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The initial pilot will take place at five schools in the Crickhowell catchment area as soon as possible following February half term. Following the pilot the system will be rolled out across all Powys schools in the future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Phil Pritchard, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for Business Services, said: “We are delighted to be announcing the pilot for this new service working in conjunction with Nationwide Retail Systems Ltd and their partners ParentPay. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“A cashless system will be a significant improvement for schools, parents and pupils as it will remove the need for pupils to take cash or cheques to school and eradicate the requirement of the cash to be handled, reconciled and banked. Similar systems are already being used successfully in many authorities and we are pleased to be able to introduce this facility in our county.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The views of parents, pupils and carers have been central to the development of the new system. As part of the consultation process, more than 700 responses have been received. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Pritchard added: “We would like to thank all those who have contributed to the work to date and look forward to progressing the project with all key stakeholders.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One of the key benefits of introducing the system will be that the council will no longer incur the costs of collecting cash from schools. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Through the new system parents/carers will have the ability if required to see what their children are eating in school. The system will also inform catering staff of specific dietary requirements in relation to allergies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Accounts will be able to be ‘topped up’ online while those without internet access will be able to use local Pay-Point outlets such as newsagents, garages convenience stores and other local retail outlets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​