ParentPay & Cashless Catering System

 

1. Overview

Turton School operates a cashless catering system using ParentPay.com

• ParentPay is used for:
  • School meals
  • School trips
  • Parental consent
  • Learning resources
  • Stationery (School Essentials shop)
  • Locker hire

• Cash and cheques are not accepted.

 

2. Student ID Cards

• Each student receives an ID card with name, photo, and year group.
• Used to:
  • Pay for food and drinks in the dining room
  • Purchase items from School Essentials
• Students must:
  • Bring the card daily
  • Keep it safe and undamaged
• Replacement cards:
  • Cost £2.00 (ordered via ParentPay)
  • Collected next working day from dining room
  • Required for lost, bent, damaged or defaced cards

 

3. Setting Up ParentPay

• Activation letter provided at Induction Evening (July).
• Account set up online.
• Payments made by credit/debit card or Direct Debit (One-Click – please read guidance on ParentPay website before activating)
• Funds usually available within 30 minutes.
• Payments for dinner money should be made by 11:30am at the latest.

 

4. Free School Meals (FSM)

• Parents must still create a ParentPay account.
• FSM students receive:
  • £2.80 per day
  • Lunchtime use only
• Entitlement confirmed via local authority.
• FSM students use the system in the same way as others.

 

5. Checking Balances & Monitoring Spending

• Account balance visible on home screen after login.
• Parents can:
  • View itemised daily purchases
  • Set a daily spending limit (allowance)
• To set allowance:
  • Email finance@turton.uk.com with the preferred daily limit
  • Funds must be added by 9:30am to be available the same day – see Point 6
  • Allowance activates at 10:00am

 

6. If Funds Are Insufficient or Card Forgotten

• Student can receive:
  • Sandwich and small bottle of water at lunchtime
• £2.20 deducted once account is topped up.
• This support is short-term only.
• If funds not replaced promptly:
  • Pastoral Team informed
  • Parent/carer contacted

 

7. School Trips & Consent

• All trips must be paid for via ParentPay.
• Trip payment options automatically appear on accounts when invited.
• Payment via ParentPay:
  • Confirms consent for participation.
• Email reminders sent through ParentPay.
• Parents must update school with any contact detail changes.

 

 

8. Making Payments

• Recommended method:
  • Use “Other Payment Method” (debit/credit card).
• Alternative “One Click” option:
  • Sets up a direct debit
  • Refer to ParentPay Parent FAQ for further guidance prior to use

 

 

9. Lockers (Sept 2026 – July 2027)

• Cost: £10.00 for academic year.
• Year 7 priority until 21st September 2026.
• After this: first-come, first-served.
• £5.00 refunded when key returned in July 2027.
• Keys collected from School Essentials shop.

 

 

10. School Online Shop

• No need to have a ParentPay account.
• School ties for all year groups available to purchase.
• Order collections from School Essentials.
• More products such as revision guides will be added in time.

 

 

11. ParentPay Support

Login Issues:

• Open a new web page to clear cookies.
• Check correct email (username) and password.
• Use a unique password for ParentPay.

 

 

Further Help:

• Use online FAQ section (“For Parents” tab).
• Contact Finance Office:
  • finance@turton.uk.com

 

 

Last updated: May 2026