Who chases lunch money debt in your school?

[MrsWombat]

Initial gentle reminders and the more serious phone calls? Is debt collection listed on their job description?

That’s my job! My job description says “administering school meals, free school meals and school meal payments” This starts with gentle letters and has, in the past, gone as far as starting action in the small claims court where my predecessor had allowed a debt of over £150 to build up.

Our pastoral managers chase the issue. Admin team used to do it but most of the phonecalls ended up being better handled by the pastoral team because the debt was usually a result of the family being in financial crisis. In my school, it is the pastoral managers that help with the FSM paperwork and have links to the local food banks.

SBO, primary

FO Primary. Currently around 14 families out of 470.