Parent Portal

[clareq]

I've been asked to investigate a parent portal. Looking around here, I've seen good reports on TASC Insight. Any others we should look at/avoid?

[vikpaw]

If you're a SIMS user, then that is the generally favoured option.

You could look at offerings from Bromcom, Capita's own SLG and potentially any VLE providers who can link to SIMS.

This last one is an important one depending on your long term plans, and what functionality you need from a portal.

[clareq]

We currently use Frog, but we aren't happy with the parent portal within in. I have been asked to investigate alternatives.

[Danp]

Just installed Firefly Parent Portal, not gone live with it yet though

[vikpaw]

We currently use Frog, but we aren't happy with the parent portal within in. I have been asked to investigate alternatives.

Please spill the beans...

Just installed Firefly Parent Portal, not gone live with it yet though

Looked at them, very flexible, but thought Frog was easier on the eye and easier to set up.

[clareq]

I'd be interested to know how it's recieved

[vikpaw]

You can get a free demo from them, not sure if mine is still active, i'm guessing not, haven't looked for nearly a year.

[clareq]

Please spill the beans...

 

Not my call - SMT don't like the look or cost of the frog parent portal. I just do as directed

[Danp]

We looked at Frog (friend works for them, just moved over to Kuala Lumpur to work there for them) but it was not 'doing it' for us.

[Edu-IT]

We're use Insight here. If you have any specific questions, let me know. Happy to help. Parents really seem to like it too.

[number34]

We're use Insight here. If you have any specific questions, let me know. Happy to help. Parents really seem to like it too.

 

We are in our third year of using INSIGHT and our parents are very happy. We also use the pupil accounts so that they can check their behaviour and assignments. Not sure what the others cost but INSIGHT is one of the cheaper options.

[clareq]

Thank you all for your feedback. My boss has arranged a demo of Insight and is impressed. He's waiting on pricing information now.

[Edu-IT]

Be sure to recieve other quotes just to show how Insight is a cost effective solution if it gets wiped out on price alone. None of these systems are cheap, but Insight pricing is realistic.

[ajg]

We used to use Frog for our parent portal but moved a couple of years ago to Insight as the features were much better and it utilises a live link into Sims so any changes are instantly shown in Insight, was also a bit cheaper too. I think the Frog portal has improved over the last couple of years but still nowhere as good as Insight in my opinion.

[zag]

2nd year of TASC insight, its the best you can get imo

[Max_Power]

What is the username format for using TASC? Are you able to define anything you wish from your SIMS database, such as the parental contacts email address?

Always looking to evaluate what we use and if there is any way of improving, but have concerns about parents using multiple usernames for online payments, and reports online etc. From previous experience its a headache we can do without, there we would want to keep it all the same if possible.

[Edu-IT]

You can use email address yes. Or bloggs1234 type auto generated username.

[zag]

We use their email address.

[number34]

We use their email address as well.