Trust-e Cashless Catering

Cashless catering provides a fast, efficient school meals service.  It is a biometric system which uses students’ thumb prints at the revaluation pay points and at the tills.  These FAQs give comprehensive details about the system:

Q         What is a cashless system?

A         A cashless catering system is a solution, which is purpose designed to meet the ever-evolving needs and demands of the catering provision that is required by today’s schools and academies.

The Trust-e Cashless solution allows schools to be better able to provide their students with a faster, more efficient and more appealing meal service.

Q         What is biometric?

A         Biometric is simply a method of identifying an individual person.  We use an algorithm based scan, which reads between 50 and 130 points on the thumb.  It is not a fingerprint in any way, shape or form and is of use only in the cashless system.

Q         How does a biometric system work?

A         The information of a pupil who has been biometrically registered is stored on a secure biometric controller within the school, which only our provider, Nationwide Retail Systems Ltd, can access.  Once an account is credited the pupil places their thumb on the EPOS Terminal, which looks up their account details and allows them to purchase items using only this method of identification.

Q         How does my child register on the biometric system?

A         For students joining us in Year 7, registration will take place during New Intake days.  Students joining the school in other years, or visiting TENC students, may call in at the Canteen during the school day to register (preferably not during break/lunch time service).

Your child will be required to place their thumb on a biometric sensor twice to obtain a matching template, which only takes a few seconds.

Q         What if I prefer my child not to give a biometric thumb print?

A         In line with current legislation, we operate an “opt in” policy.   If you choose not to have your child registered on the biometric system, a 4 digit PIN code will be allocated.  Please note that PIN codes do not have the same level of security and it will be your child’s responsibility to remember the code and keep it secure at all times. 

Q         Will my child be shown how to use the system?

A         All students are shown how to use the cashless system during their induction, including how to load monies via the revaluation points.

Q         What methods of payment can be used to credit an account?

A         Any amount can be credited to an account by way of any of the following methods.  Once an account has been credited the monies cannot be withdrawn and must be spent on the school meal/break services.

Online payments – Payments are made via ParentPay using a very secure website –  www.ParentPay.com – or in cash at local stores where the PayPoint logo is displayed.  Parents will have a secure online account, activated using a unique activation username and password.  Once activated, payments can be made online immediately.  ParentPay holds an electronic record of all payments to be monitored and viewed at any time. 

Cash at the revaluation machines – Revaluation machines are sited in the Lancaster Suite.  These can be used to top up accounts by the student placing their thumb on the sensor or by entering their 4 digit PIN code followed by inserting the accepted tender – £20, £10, £5 notes (new plasticised notes are accepted), £2, £1, 50p, 20p, 10p, 5p coins.  Please note that copper coins are not accepted.

Q         How can I check the credit on an account?

A         This can be done by the account holder placing their thumb on to the revaluation machine or by entering a 4 digit PIN code.  The current balance will then be displayed.  

Q         Can I change the daily “spend limit”?

A         Yes.  The daily “spend limit” has a default of £5 but this may be changed by written request to Mrs. Watson, Business Manager.

Q         What happens if my child’s account is not in credit?

A         A “lend” can be processed at the till point in the Canteen which will then allow a meal to be taken.

Q         How do free school meal entitlements work?

A         All free school meal entitlements will be entered on to the system.  The cashless catering system will, on a daily basis, automatically allocate the appropriate accounts with the free school meal amounts.  Students with free meal entitlements remain anonymous at all times as all account types are accessed in exactly the same manner regardless of whether paid for or not.  Note that monies not spent from the daily free school meal allocation will not be carried over to the next day.

Q         Can anyone else use my child’s account?

A         No.  Due to the extensive security on biometric templates no-one will be able to access your child’s account.  As a secondary precaution, student photos (taken at the start of term in September) are allocated to the account.  If your child is using a 4 digit PIN code, which someone obtains and attempts to use, the photograph shown on the till point will alert the operator that a fraudulent sale is taking place.

Q         My child has an allergy, how will this be monitored

A         All allergy records registered with the school will be entered on to the cashless system.  When students attempt to purchase an item, which has ingredients that they are allergic to, the system will alert the operator and prevent them from selling the chosen item.

Q         Can I dictate my child’s dietary requirements?

A         The system will allow you to register any items that your child is not allowed due to dietary needs or religious beliefs.  Any such items must be confirmed in writing by the parent/carer to Mrs. Watson, Business Manager.

Q         Can I request a printed report of my child’s meal intake?

A         Yes. The cashless catering system allows numerous reporting facilities, which includes dietary habits.  Reports may be requested by contacting finance@theferrers.org

Benefits of the Trust-E Cashless Catering system

• Increased speed of service reducing queuing times
• Increased uptake on Free School Meals
• Anonymity on Free School Meals 
• Facility to pay online via Parent Pay
• No need to carry cash
• Automatic alerts to stop students purchasing allergy trigger items
• Students learn about important lifestyle control by monitoring their own accounts
• Reporting facilities help decrease wastage and improve the overall efficiency of the meal service
• Parents may request a report to view transactions made

Data Protection information

NRS is accredited with ISO27001 – Information Security Management System – and is committed to ensuring that privacy is protected.  Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified, you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.

NRS is registered as a data processor under the Data Protection Act (DPA) and operate at all times under the DPA Guidelines.

Schools’ data will remain their responsibility and they remain fully in control of accessing, managing and updating all student data within the system. Schools and the local authority are operating as Data Controllers under the DPA. All NRS Staff that may have administrator access to schools’ data for support purposes are Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checked.

Information collected to implement a cashless catering system is outlined below

Nationwide Retail Systems Ltd does not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties.

You may request details on personal information which we hold about you under the Data Protection Act 1998.

NRS removes all data from servers one week after the cashless system has gone live within the school.

If you believe that any information we are holding about your child is incorrect or incomplete, please write to or email us as soon as possible, at the address below.

Nationwide Retail System Ltd.
Whaley Road
Barugh Green
Barnsley
S75 1HT
01226 732 200

support@nrsltd.com