Dear Parents/Carers,
I am writing to inform you of the new payment arrangements in our school canteen. In order to ensure maximum efficiency when taking payment for food and drinks, we are introducing a system using biometrics for payment at the tills. This means that instead of paying with their ID card, your child simply places their finger onto a scanner and their ID will be verified.
The information held is NOT an actual fingerprint image. When a student registers their fingerprint in the system, about 50 miniscule points are recorded and the rest of the information from the fingerprint is discarded. All biometric data is stored solely on the school’s servers, which are physically located within the school premises. All biometric data is encrypted using AES–256 encryption and is secure.
Once the student places their finger onto the scanner, their account will be displayed and money will then be taken from their ParentPay account. If your child is entitled to Free School Meals their allocation will automatically be credited to their account every day.
There are several advantages to using biometrics:
- A finger, unlike a card, cannot be lost, mislaid or stolen. This means that you can be sure the money you allocate to your child is safe
- Students cannot attempt to use one another’s accounts
- A faster service will reduce queues and enable students to have longer free time during their break/lunch times.
If you do not wish to consent for your child’s fingerprint to be scanned you must opt out by email before Friday 12th July 2024, to contact@amsi.school clearly stating your child’s name and year group. If you do not respond your permission will be assumed.
We will be rolling out the new system when students return in September 2024. However we will begin scanning students fingerprints from Monday 15th July 2024.
Yours sincerely,
Susan Service
Headteacher