Parental reporting and sims web access - what do you use?

[tj2419]

We are looking at options for parental reporting and allowing staff to access some sections of sims online and therefore from home.

 

We have seen Overnet Data's option which looks promising.

 

I wondered what else other people used or would recommend?

 

It needs to do the following:

• Allow staff to take registers
  
• Allow staff to enter data into marksheets from sims
  
• Behaviour
  
• Attainment
  
• Attendance
  
• House Points
  
• Timetable
  
• Assessments from sims
  
• Exam dates
  

[bobsmith]

SIMS Teacher app?

 

It ticks all the boxes above that I can remember from playing with it.

[tj2419]

Can parents and students access the info too with that? Obviously not the registers and marksheets.

 

Cheers

[Steven_Cleaver]

We use Insight (Tasc Software), Attendance, Behaviour, Reports, Parent Evening bookings etc. for Student an Parental access and for staff just use remote access to SIM's workstations.

[bobsmith]

Can parents and students access the info too with that? Obviously not the registers and marksheets.

Cheers

 

Phil mentioned that there will be a student and parent app.

[clockend25]

SIMS Learning Gateway. I actually think it's a workable platform that does the job. Unfortunately it's largely been left with me to implement and as such the uptake hasn't been the best and we're not really using it to its full capacity.

[ronnoco]

We've just moved to Hosted SIMS and so far, the SLG has been absolutely terrible! We have a job that has been outstanding for 6 weeks for provisioning parents. It's hit and miss whether it works. Some users have blank passwords, some have passwords that don't work. Also, it doesn't display the children's dashboard properly on an iPhone or iPad, if parents try to reset their password they get an error message and can't proceed, it's extremely slow and looks very out of date.

 

I really wouldn't recommend it.

 

I've just done a similar post to yours looking for alternatives.

[GroovyNerd]

We use Insight (Tasc Software), Attendance, Behaviour, Reports, Parent Evening bookings etc. for Student an Parental access and for staff just use remote access to SIM's workstations.

I've never personally used TASC but I've heard great things about if from loads of admins around London. We use Firefly here, if you can afford it. Been going a bit downhill as of late so I would stay clear for the time being

[maturelady]

Groupcall's Emerge/Xpressions ticks all the boxes for the features you want and a lot more.

 

Well respected company - take a look.

[tben2505]

App is utterly useless for this target usage. It's all very well spending loads on an app but you can't write reports on an ipad.

 

The best solution I've seen so far, for teachers, students and parents is edulink, as suggested by the OP - however the assessment module is rubbish. It needs an holistic marksheet view like the SIMS client. Currently you have to enter data one pupil at a time.

 

But it looks amazing and is cross-platform and easy to use. I don't know how it performs when it's linked up properly, though - however their demo is fast https://www.edulinkone.com/#!/demo

 

TASC is great for parents (we have this) but the teacher version is ugly, clumsy and not user-friendly.

 

I find it remarkable no one has jumped on this and produced something that does EVERYTHING and that works on EVERYTHING (Mobile browsers, mobile apps, website (all browsers and all platforms) ipads, tablets).

 

As I said, OvernetData's solution comes closest for me.

 

A web-based MIS is the best way to go, which SIMS will be soon in SIMS 8. Using a client installed on a machine is outdated.

[deano3693]

We use Overnet Edulink and we have just rolled it out to Parents to give them access to pupil data and all feedback we have is postive. The support team at Overnet have been fantastic and they are even looking to build additional functionality we have requested into the app such as the ability for staff to take Detention registers etc.

[GREED]

Groupcall's Emerge/Xpressions ticks all the boxes for the features you want and a lot more.

 

Well respected company - take a look.

 

Thanks @maturelady for the positive message.

[GREED]

I find it remarkable no one has jumped on this and produced something that does EVERYTHING and that works on EVERYTHING (Mobile browsers, mobile apps, website (all browsers and all platforms) ipads, tablets).

 

Well yes, why has someone not yet produced the perfect platform that does everything everyone everywhere wants...

 

Doesn't one suspect it might be a little harder to get it right for everyone all the time, otherwise someone would already have done it...

[tben2505]

Well yes, why has someone not yet produced the perfect platform that does everything everyone everywhere wants...

 

Doesn't one suspect it might be a little harder to get it right for everyone all the time, otherwise someone would already have done it...

 

Given everything DOES exist already, just divided among several different products, then no, I don't suspect it might be hard.

 

Given we're talking about SIMS - it's a case of replicating the main staff functionality for staff online, cross platform.

[GREED]

Given everything DOES exist already, just divided among several different products, then no, I don't suspect it might be hard.

 

Given we're talking about SIMS - it's a case of replicating the main staff functionality for staff online, cross platform.

 

Playing devils advocate - then why have SIMS not just done it?

 

As a supplier of these such products, and the Product Manager for our own specifically, I can tell you it is a task to not only provide the features schools need from their MIS, but also offer services that are USP to make attractive to buy.

 

Further, not every product does it the same, and so is not right for every school in every area all the time. Otherwise, there would be no choosing of products - what makes you choose one product over another - because it does something better or in a way you prefer over others.... the next chap prefers option 2 because they prefer something else...

[tben2505]

Playing devils advocate - then why have SIMS not just done it?

 

 

It's on its way; SIMS 8 - taken far too long, too!

 

After that I imagine it will be at least another year before it's refined enough and bug-free enough for it to be really good.

 

As I say, having an MIS that staff (support and teaching), as well as other stakeholders, can access anywhere, anytime and from any device - is long, long overdue. You could argue iSAMS have done this but unsure on their mobile platforms - and I know there are browser issues too.

[lwalshaw]

The support team at Overnet have been fantastic

 

Thanks Dean, detention registers are on track for the end of this month

 

Lucy

[lwalshaw]

however the assessment module is rubbish. It needs an holistic marksheet view like the SIMS client. Currently you have to enter data one pupil at a time.

@tben2505 New interface for marksheets (assessment module) is on it's way should be ready to go in the next week or so

 

We are rapidly developing Edulink One and unlike some other companies any features we add will be available at no additional cost, We also have a flat rate pricing model (unlimited users and devices at no additional costs)

 

Lucy

[tben2505]

Lucy that's great news - will it be made available on the demo site too? Would love you to let me know once it's sorted...

[lwalshaw]

Lucy that's great news - will it be made available on the demo site too? Would love you to let me know once it's sorted...

@tben2505 Yep once it's ready I will add it to the demo - if you drop me a email ([email protected]) I will let you know when I have added it

 

Lucy