Software to sen SMS text messages to Parents?

[tosca925]

Does anyone know of or is using any such software.? We run Exchange 2003 but it is only a internal box and does not include external email facility.

The school wants us to look into software that can be used to send a SMS text message to parents to advise them of truancy issues, appointments discipline issues etc. Parent were polled on this and we had a great response to the idea.


Any one using anything?

[mark]

Our authority is looking into it, dunno the status now - they've been talking about it for at least 6 moths - i'll make some enquiries. I seem to recall looking into a few options - all prohibitively expensive - from hardware boxes to hosted solutions.

Meanwhile... We have a mobile dedicated to incoming texts, and an email account also dedicated to absences.

[webman]

We use an application call CallParents/TruancyCall. I personally don't know how well it works as we haven't had it long, but it does rely on teachers marking the registers properly (yes, putting a tick in a box on a computer screen is trivial for some of them).

[steve]

There are a few companies that provide sms services for schools:

http://www.schoolcomms.com/
http://www.fastsms.co.uk/schools/
http://www.textmine.com/
http://www.callparents.com/

Not used any of them myself but its something I can see manglement wanting sooner or later.

[Ric_]

We have GroupCall but it hasn't been implemented yet - it might be something to look into.

Check out http://www.groupcall.co.uk/

It's supposed to link in with the Nedap registration system that we have.

Check out http://www.nedap-education.com/en/main/

[tosca925]

Thanks Guys

[RobC]

Another vote for Groupcall here. We've been using it for about five months now and it is fantastic. It has a version for use with every major MIS program, and the company are very friendly & helpful if there's a problem.

Highly recommended.

[pete]

I'm assuming these products ask for confirmation before sending a text message - i.e it has to have a "this person is definitely not in the building" box checked? Otherwise I forsee late register + SMS = irate/worried parents.

[webman]

Otherwise I forsee late register + SMS = irate/worried parents.

Yep, the attendance officer has had an earful of angry parents lately due to "incorrect" marks - I say this loosely so it could either mean a student was actually late, or whoever took the register didn't place the correct mark in the correct box.

[mark]

We also tested potential takeup on the dedicated mobile - it was too low to justify anything more.

[RobC]

I'm assuming these products ask for confirmation before sending a text message - i.e it has to have a "this person is definitely not in the building" box checked? Otherwise I forsee late register + SMS = irate/worried parents.

We had quite a few problems with this to start with when we implemented Groupcall. Things smoothed out after about a month when parents got the hint and actually informed the school of planned absences/latenesses. Our registration teachers are quite good in that they can get the right box ticked (most of the time!), and we don't actually send out the messages until after first period is over to allow late people time to arrive.

RobC.

[welshun]

We use CallParents/TruancyCall, it seems to work well. Parents have given some positive feedback. The attendance officer is very impressed with it. She does have to correct some errors on attendance slips but I think she's fine with that.