Council gets tough on school dinner debt

Parents and carers are being warned that their kids could go without school dinners should they fall into debt on their online pay system.

In an announcement to parents, Welshpool High School said that Powys County Council (PCC), who administer the cashless system, will take a zero tolerance for debt from January 8.

“Therefore, your child will not be able to purchase food or drink if they do not have enough credit in their account,” said the school’s announcement.

In a letter to ‘all secondary schools headteachers’, Jason Rawbone, Principal Catering Manager for PCC, said that the Authority was “concerned at the level of debt being accumulated on the school cashless system”.

“Please not that before the end of this school term, all parents with negative balance for their child’s account will be communicated with via email or letter and asked to bring their accounts into credit before the start of the next term,” he added.

The high school has warned parents that it can take up to 48 hours for funds added using ParentPay to be available onto the account in the canteen.

Some parents have already criticised the stance and urged the council to at least give some leeway for a day just in case a parent has simply forgot or been unable to top up.