DINNER MONEY DEBTOR POLICY

Approved by Governing Body …………………………

Reviewed by:

Signed…………………………Chair of Governors

Date……………………………

Meals Debtor Policy for Parents

HENLEAZE INFANT SCHOOL DINNER MONEY DEBTOR POLICY

General Principle

All school meals should be paid for in advance or on the day that the meal is being consumed. Money should be paid in an envelope clearly marked with the child's name, class and amount paid. Cheques should be made payable to BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL and state the child's name and class on the reverse of the cheque. In addition, payment can be made online via Ez Pay.

Free School Meals

Only children who are officially approved by the Awards Department of Bristol City Council will be entitled to receive free school meals. Recent successful applicants should notify the office that their child/children are now eligible for free school meals. If a parent/carer is no longer entitled to receive free school meals for their child/children they should inform the office immediately. Failure to do so will result in a charge being incurred for meals taken.

Dinner Debt Policy

Where payment is not made in advance, or on the day the meal is being consumed, and arrears accumulate, the following procedures will apply:

·  A letter will be sent home with the child on the Friday (or last day of the week) informing the parents/carers of the arrears. Payment of the debt will be requested on the following school day.

·  If no payment is received the following week and arrears have accumulated to £11, a further letter signed by the Head Teacher will be sent to the parents/carers requesting immediate payment and to provide their child/children with a packed lunch until the arrears have been cleared.

·  If no payment is made after this two week window and the child/children arrive at school without a packed lunch, the parent/carer will be telephoned by the office that morning and asked to do one of the following:

o  Pay the debt via Ez Pay / come into school and pay by cash or cheque.

o  Provide a lunch before midday

o  Take their child home for lunch

* N.B failure to adhere to the above will result in the child/children being offered toast and fruit until the debt is settled.

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Dinner Debt Policy continued

·  As a last resort, if no payment has been received by the end of the third week, the parent/carer is then informed that if the arrears are not paid by the following Monday, the matter will be passed to Bristol City Council Solicitors Department. The Solicitors Department will then write a letter to the debtor asking for the debt to be paid.

·  Once the debt has been cleared, the school can continue to provide school meals in line with the usual procedure.

·  Any monies received by the school will be used to reduce the debt until it has been fully paid.

·  If a parent/carer feels that their child/children are entitled to free school meals they should follow the link below:

www.bristol.gov.uk/page/children-and-young-people/free-school-meals

in order to ascertain if they are eligible and to apply on line. In addition, help is also available from the administration staff in the office.

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Henleaze Infant School

Dinner Money Debtor Policy