Useful Information
The instructions on this page are for schools purchasing vouchers/gift cards from supermarkets to distribute to pupils entitled to Free School Meals
Using Supermarket Vouchers - General Information
Background:
In the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak of 2020 when schools were ordered to shut, the problem for many families that typically struggled for money and good meals for pupils was how to afford additional lunchtime meals usually covered by Free School Meals in schools. With advice not to leave home, and school canteens shut, understaffed or not practical to get to daily for lunch, school (under direction from the government) looked to offer a secure way of getting FSM money to parents to be spent on food for pupils – via supermarket gift cards and vouchers.
Purpose:
The purpose of the SVM tool is to allow schools to purchase supermarket vouchers, usually using the corporate/business gift card scheme to buy multiple vouchers/gift card in bulk in one transaction, upload the details into School Cash Office to then send the details to individual parents, using the Comms/Comms Lite module. This allow schools to perform this action one for all their families who need the FSM or other money, using the mechanism and processes already available to them.
Information as of March 2020:
This solution has been produced as swiftly as possible during the 2020 Coronavirus crisis. While ensuring the platform and features are usable, stable and secure at all times, we acknowledge that there some refinement that can be done and will endeavour to do as time allows.