12th July 2016
Dear Parent/Carers
I am writing to inform you regarding our communication to parents by text and email and handling payments via a web-based system. At present we use SIMS Agora but on various occasions we have experienced issues with this system. Also as we are part of The South Essex Academy Trust it has been agreed that all the schools under this umbrella will be using the same cashless system from 1st September 2016.
Therefore, please can we ask you to settle any arrears that you may have for dinners, breakfast and trips using SIMS Agora, as this service will no longer be available from 31st July 2016. Any debits and credits will be transferred to your new account for 1st September 2016.
From 1st September 2016 we will be using ParentMail, a service used by over 6,000 schools, nurseries and children’s clubs to communicate to parents. Once we commence operating the system, no cash will be accepted for dinners, breakfast club or trips after this date.
Parent Mail will be beneficial to you because:
· Messages will get to you reliably and on time
· Emergency or important information can be sent by text message
· Parents will no longer need to scramble for cash to pay for school items, including dinner money.
· Parents can pay on the go with the handy iPhone app.
· Parents can be alerted when they need to pay/top-up, so no more forgetting!
· It’s essential that online payments systems are as socially inclusive as possible which is why we also include PayPoint, PayCash and PayPal as payment options for parents.
· This system incorporates the latest technology and eliminates the need for pupils to carry cash into the school.
· The cost of a meal is £2.10 for pupils, and daily cost for breakfast club is £1.75 which will be programmed into the system for each day. Any amount of money can be paid into your child’s account and money spent will be deducted on a daily basis, enabling your child to have a school dinner on any day they wish.
Please can we urge all parents/carers to register with this service. We understand that Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils are entitled to a universal free school meal but trips, breakfast club and other products will need to be paid using this cashless system.
To use the latest version of ParentMail all you need to do is verify your account. At the start of the autumn term you will be sent either an email or text message from ParentMail, when you receive a registration invitation by text and email. You can decide which way you register, - but you will only need to register once.
Mobile registration:
Please click on the link from the text message and follow the verification process. You will be asked to enter some details, answer a security question to verify who you are and to set a password for your account.
Email registration
Please click on the link from the email and follows the verification process. As above, you will be asked to enter some details, answer a security question to verify who you are and to set a password for your account.
Please be assured that ParentMail is registered with the Information Commissioner and guarantees that all information you provide will be kept private and will not be passed onto any other organization.
If you have not received any contact from ParentMail by 5th September 2016 please contact the school to update your contact information, as this may be out of date.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you but would appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Yours sincerely
Catherine Stalham
Headteacher