Parents and carers in Dumbarton and the Vale are being reminded to sign up for an online service to pay for school meals and activities.

ParentPay has been introduced as a pilot at Christie Park Primary, Bonhill Primary, St Mary’s Primary Alexandria, and St Ronan’s Primary, with plans to roll out to other schools across the area early next year.

Users can make payments 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from any location using a secure online account.

The service removes the need for parents and carers to provide dinner money to pupils each day or to send young people to school with large sums of cash to pay for trips or activities.

Councillor Karen Conaghan, convener of educational services, said she wanted to make new primary one parents and carers aware of the service.

“This has been welcomed by parents and carers as a really convenient way to pay for school services,” she said.

“Those with more than one child at school, or children at other ParentPay schools, can create a single account that will cover all of them.

“Not only does this new service remove the stress of searching for school dinner money each day, it also prevents young people carrying large sums of money to school.”

Councillor Caroline McAllister, depute convener, added: “This is a really convenient way to pay for school services and activities and I know many parents and carers are already taking advantage of it.

“For anyone who does wish to pay by cash, our schools will continue to have the ability to receive cash payments.”

Parents can also pay for services via PayPoint with stores located throughout West Dunbartonshire.

For further information on ParentPay please call educational services on 01389 737309 or visit parentpay.com.