Never has good communication been so important between schools and parents than during the recent pandemic crisis. With many schools now looking to get pupils back to the classroom, using all the tools available is going to be essential.
The good news is that today’s technology is likely to come to the rescue, at least in part. Those schools that have invested in apps have an effective tool to make sure that parents, pupils and teachers are all properly informed.
What are school apps?
School apps have become increasingly popular over the last ten years as headteachers and administrators have tried to improve communication between staff, pupils and parents.
Most parents own a mobile phone or tablet and the dedicated school app can be easily downloaded. These vital pieces of software mean that schools can send out notifications and handle a whole range of administrative tasks such as monitoring sickness and absence as well as providing key policy documents and updates for parents.
The benefits of a school app
There’s no doubt that parents are going to be wary and a little fearful when the majority of children head back to school in September. Good communication will be key. Apps can help with this:
- They give schools a clear pathway to inform parents about protecting children, what policies are in place and what children can expect.
- An app can be a great preparatory tool for returning to school but can also be used by parents to raise concerns and find out more information if they need it without contacting teachers directly.
- Apps can be used to deliver instant notifications which could prove even more useful in a post-lockdown world. For example, if a school has to close down again and send children home, messages can be sent out as a matter of urgency informing parents.
Apps can also be modified to help parents deliver education at home and prepare for the return to school. Many have had to provide homeschooling during the enforced lockdown and, if we return to this for any reason, apps can be used to support that process with access to learning materials and advice.
One of the key benefits of a school app is that it cuts down on administrative burden while maintaining good communication at all times. Schools don’t have to worry about phoning around or mailing every parent if something happens, they can send out notifications in a block. They could, for example, advise pupils and parent of changes to policies or timetables.
The return to school after the Covid-19 lockdown may well involve a good deal of trial and error. Keeping parents up to date in real-time has real benefits and ensures that everyone is kept in the loop. This is new territory for everyone involved and we don’t really know how long it is going to last for.
Schools that already use a dedicated app for communication with parents now need to explore how they use this technology to their advantage. The good news is that apps are more sophisticated than they were just a few years ago and more innovation may well come as we begin to get used to the ‘new normal’.
