Cashless Catering

The school operates a cashless catering biometric system. Biometric is simply a method of identifying an individual person through the use of fingerprints. Fingerprints are read and between 50 and 130 points are selected from the finger/thumb.  This creates a mathematical algorithm which is then stored. There are no fingerprint images stored in any form and the algorithm can only be used by the NRS cashless system to recognise the student.

Each student has their own account and the system links to Arbor to show the items they have bought and the balance on their account. Arbor is also used to add money onto the students’ cashless catering account through Arbor.  If you would like further information please contact the main office.  

Change of catering contractor for 2025-26

Parents and Guardians - We will be moving to a new catering service provider for the new academic year.  The new provider is Caterlink and they already work in a number of local schools.  Further communications will be posted via Arbor as the academic year draws to a close but for the rest of Term 3 we would request that parents and guardians check their balances on Arbor and only add funds sufficient for the rest of the term.

Is your child eligible for free school meals?

Cottingham High encourages parents and carers to apply for free school meals.  You will receive a £2.80 allowance per day which is automatically added to their cashless catering account to be spent at lunchtimes only, any unspent allowance is again automatically deducted at day end.

Some parents may be reluctant to apply because they are concerned about any stigma attached to students receiving free school meals. However, because this system is automatic, students are not personally identified as receiving a free school meal and as such anonymity is ensured.

A new free school meals online application has been created which allows the parent/guardian to check if their child is entitled to free school meals before completing the online application process.

This new online facility speeds up the application process when applying for free school meals as it allows parents/guardians to check entitlement and receive instant confirmation if their child is entitled before completing the online application form. 

To check eligibility or to make a new claim for free school meals please visit: www.eastriding.gov.uk/fsm           

Your child(ren) will be entitled to free school meals if you as the parent are in receipt of any of the following benefits:

• Job Seeker's Allowance (income-based)
• Income Support
• Universal Credit - Your annual income assessed by the Department for Work and Pension must be less than £7,400. Any pupil eligible for free school meals before 1 April 2018 when the earned income threshold is introduced will retain their eligibility until then end of universal credit roll-out which is August 2026
• Child Tax Credit (but NOT receiving Working Tax Credit) – provided your annual income, assessed by the Inland Revenue, does not exceed £16,190 (please note: this amount is subject to change in April every year)
• Employment Support Allowance (income-related)
• Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Working Tax Credit run on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit. .

Entitlement to free school meals is kept as confidential as possible. Many schools now have systems in place such as swipe cards or fingerprint identification systems, which do not identify to other pupils the fact that a child is receiving a free school meal.

The free school meal will remain in place for as long as your child continues to attend an East Riding of Yorkshire school and you continue to be entitled to one of the above qualifying benefits.

The benefit section continue to administer free school meal applications for children under 19 years old, in full time education and attending an East Riding School.  Any queries please contact the benefits team on 01482 393939, or email benefit.assessments@eastriding.gov.uk alternatively customers can call into a local customer service centre.