School Meals
Chartwells operate our catering facilities and provide an extensive range of healthy choices for our students at good value prices - most prices are only changed once a year in September. For Parents' FAQ's relating to catering, please see below. Our Dining Hall is open for staff and students at the following times:
8-8.40am - Breakfast Club in the Sixth Form Dining Hall
11.15-11.30am - Break time in the Main Dining Hall (some students buy their lunch at break time if they have activities at lunch time and know they will be short of time)
12.35-1.35pm - Lunch time in the Main and Sixth Form Dining Halls
Price list September 2012 prices (word document from Chartwells)
   
There is a lunch rota posted outside the Main Dining Hall
showing priority for different year groups on different days. Queues are separate for hot and cold lunches.
Cashless Payment System - using Biometrics
In July 2009 we installed an updated cashless system for school meals. We made this decision to increase security and reduce the queues as requested by the students. The system has enabled us to deliver a more efficient, safer and faster service and ensures we can continue to provide wholesome, healthy and enjoyable meals at the lowest possible cost.
The Biometric system works by using an algorithm of the students fingerprint. The fingerprint itself is NOT stored, but an algorithm which translates the image into an alpha-numeric code. The code cannot be converted back into a fingerprint and the image of the finger is discarded. When used, this code will allow the student to enter into the program and become indentifiable by it.
To make a purchase, students simply place their finger on a scanner at the point of sale; a display will show the server the student’s name, class and current cash balance held within the system. The selected food items will be entered into the system from an itemised keyboard while the amount spent and the new cash balance will show on the display.
Note: Students wishing to use a smart card instead of the biometric system, need to see Mrs C Airey in the Balcony Office or contact her direct on 01707 643441 Ext 327.
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Parents' Catering FAQs
How do I add money to my child's catering account for breakfasts, breaks and lunches?
Who can I speak to if I have any queries about the system?
What if my child does not hold a sufficient cash balance one day to pay for a school dinner?
What if my child is entitled to a ‘free school meal’?
How will ‘healthy eating’ be encouraged?
Will my child have problems in using this system?
How is recycling encouraged?
How do I add money to my child's catering account for breakfasts, breaks and lunches?
You can make a payment via WisePay or by cheque.
To pay by WisePay you go to the secure payment site using the link at the top right of this page and logon in your usual way. Use the ‘Catering’ button to make a payment. All major debit and credit cards accepted. Any payments made will be uploaded to the pupil’s id number in the cashless catering system. If you have lost your log on details please send an email to accounts@damealiceowens.herts.sch.uk and a reminder will be sent back. Payments take only 30 minutes to be added to your child’s account, so he/she can have access to the money almost immediately.
To pay by cheque, you need to write a cheque, payable to "Chartwells" and put it in an envelope, addressed to Chartwells for your child to bring to school. They should place it in the Chartwells post box in the inner foyer area, under the stairs to the staff room, first thing in the morning (by 9.30am) to allow the account to be adjusted by morning break at 11.15am. You are requested to write the full name of your child and his/her form on the back of each cheque submitted.
Your child can also top up their account with cash by using the Revaluation Station located in the 6th Form Dining Area, which is open to all students before 8.45am. This works by your child placing their finger on the scanner mounted on the Revaluation Station, which will display their name and current cash balance held within the system. They can then insert coins into the slot (£2 - £1 - 50p - 20p - 10p coins are accepted). Each incremental cash balance will show on the display. Your child then presses the red button to tell the system that the transaction is complete.
You can pay any amount of money into your child's account - the minimum amount recommended for their account is £10, the average amount is around £50 and there is no upper limit. Your child can always check at the point of sale to see how much money they have left. You can submit any other written requests with account queries via the post box in the same way, or ring or email (see details in Who can I speak to... below), for example:
- if you want to set a daily "spend" limit for your child - this is automatically set at £5.80 unless you request to specify a different amount
- if you want to request a list of each item served to your child
- if you want to check each credit made to the system for any specified time period
- if you want to check your account balance
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Who can I speak to if I have any queries about the system?
If you have any queries about the system or want to make amendments, you can contact Mr J Entwisle (Catering Manager) on his direct line 01707 622856 between 6am and 2.30pm, excluding break (11.15-11.30am) and lunchtimes (12.35-1.35pm) or email him directly on g885@compass-group.co.uk
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What if my child does not hold a sufficient cash balance one day to pay for a school dinner?
Your child will not be refused a school dinner because they have not brought their dinner money to school with them. The catering department will allow for your child to loan money for one day. However, your child would be expected to bring some money with them the next day to repay the loan and re-credit the system by using the Revaluation Station or by cheque payment to ‘Chartwells’ via the catering office or online using WisePay.
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What if my child is entitled to a ‘free school meal’?
The system works exactly the same for all pupils whether they pay or have a free school meal. Your child will have their own account to use in exactly the same way. The amount allocated for the free school meal will be entered into the system by the software daily.
The system will then allow on a daily basis the required cash amount for your child to be allotted to their current cash balance. However, any under spend or missed dinner will be identified by the system and will not be added to the next day’s balance.
Your child can also add extra cash on to his or her balance in the system by using the Revaluation Station, to enable a greater daily spend on the school dinner than allocated by their free meal allowance.
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How will ‘healthy eating’ be encouraged?
At some point in the future, we hope to enhance the school’s ‘healthy eating policy’. When the food is selected on the canteen server’s keypad, it will also register points for a balanced, healthy and nutritious school dinner. At the end of the term the top scoring pupils will be identified and the winner receives an award. This is due to come into effect during the Autumn Term 2012.
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Will my child have problems in using this system?
Some students may find it difficult to control their accounts for the first couple of weeks, but because of a daily spend limit, most learn this important life skill very quickly and will enjoy being in control of their account.
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How is recycling encouraged?
Students are encouraged to recycle cans and plastic bottles in the bins provided in the Dining Hall.
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