As an environment where children spend most of their time, inclusivity in schools is something we should always be conscious of. The importance of making every child feel involved and seen is crucial to prevent bullying, insecurities, and isolation. Pupils’ social and financial backgrounds are some of the most common reasons for them to be discriminated against or bullied. As a school, ensuring everyone is being treated equally is a key responsibility.
With so many areas to keep track of, monitoring and adapting inclusivity measures can seem like a daunting task. But simple changes, such as using a school payments software, can significantly help towards achieving inclusivity in your school community. We’ve looked at some of the key features SchoolMoney has to offer and how your school payments system can help prevent children from being defined by their financial background.
Research has found that a high percentage of children and parents that are eligible for free school meals aren’t actually taking them up, specifically because of the stigma related to the initiative. Pupils receiving free school meals may have specific vouchers instead of cash, or may be seated separately, according to their school meal plan. These elements can contribute significantly to making pupils feel singled out, or ‘different.’
To promote social inclusivity, it’s important for pupils and parents to receive some privacy around school meal payments, a key area your school payments software can help facilitate. When it comes to free school meals, SchoolMoney helps staff keep a level of discretion with students, using the ‘colour section’ feature. This feature allows staff to easily view what kind of meals pupils are subscribed to, without needing to single any of them out in front of their peers.
Whilst the ultimate goal of a school payments software is to eliminate the need for cash handling in schools, it is important to remember that not every parent or guardian has access to online banking or other cashless school payments solutions.
SchoolMoney’s PayPoint is a facility that lets parents top up their account when they need to with cash. There are over 28,000 PayPoint locations in the UK, making it an accessible choice for parents and guardians nationwide. This system enables schools to become completely cashless, whilst remaining accessible to those who still rely on cash payments.
Giving families the option to pay in instalments for more expensive purchases is a simple way to encourage inclusivity through school payments. With SchoolMoney, you can choose how many instalments to allow and create a deadline for parents to pay by. This is a great feature to increase accessibility for school amenities and activities needing bigger financial commitments, like school trips, exam materials, and new school uniforms.
If you wish to read more about SchoolMoney and its initiatives to support inclusivity, make sure to check out our blog “The Importance of Inclusivity” or watch our webinar.
For further information on how SchoolMoney can help your school, book a demo and discover the full range of SchoolMoney’s exciting features!
