Alternatives to InTouch and SLG

[edavis]

Just wondering if anyone would mind sharing their experiences of using alternatives to InTouch and SLG.

 

We currently have SLG and I hate it, so difficult to administrate and parents hardly bother with it, and we use Teachers2Parents for sending emails and texts. However this can only send generic letters, and I really want to get something that will enable me to email out Individual Reports, Profiles and Timetables to students/parents.

 

Currently looking at PS Connect, Edulink, SchoolComms or Groupcall. They all seem to have their pros and cons, and all say you can email out reports, but is this actually true or is it that parents can log into the app to see the reports (like SLG which we had a poor take up on)? I'm nervous of signing up for the SIMS Parent App as it is so new in development.

 

Also wondering whether you get a lot of complaints about the apps - looking at the app reviews, they are all very poor, especially Groupcall Xpressions, with lots of people saying they can't login or access the data they should. The idea is to make my job more streamlined and efficient, not add to it with lots or parent complaints!

 

Thanks in advance

[bobsmith]

PS connect can send reports - but I've found it a complete PITA.

 

SIMS Parent App is actually pretty slick - it's my new preferred solution for reports and updating their details.

 

However PS connect is a communications tool - SIMS Parent App isn't.

 

So ultimately you're gonna new a combination of systems unless you can find one which does it all (and does it well).

[mjk]

https://www.overnetdata.com/edulinkone

[synaesthesia]

Very large thumbs up for Edulink One, great tool, easy to use, made by people who care.

[edavis]

Thanks, that's very positive feedback. The demo looks great, I can't tell though whether I send reports out by email or just get parents to log in?

[synaesthesia]

It links directly into SIMS so you can send a notification out via SMS/Email/App for them to log into the app and check.

[john]

Suggest a look at Tasc software - TASC Software | Management software for schools and local authorities. this always reviews well on here and when I was in a school looking at tools to go with SIMS we said very much this over SLG etc... Plenty of members use it on here.

[Sylv3r]

SchoolsCOMMS - Report can be emailed but we also provide an archive via the app too.

[GREED]

Also wondering whether you get a lot of complaints about the apps - looking at the app reviews, they are all very poor, especially Groupcall Xpressions, with lots of people saying they can't login or access the data they should. The idea is to make my job more streamlined and efficient, not add to it with lots or parent complaints!

 

Just to clear up a point on this:

 

We released version 2 of Xpressions around March this year, the previous version did have it's issues due to how the data was being got at, stemming from the reliability and robustness of internet connections at peak times in schools (where the SIMS DB is held often). Not going to deny this caused some bad feelings around the end of 2017/start of 2018 which is why we rebuilt it. While there are a number of bad reviews since then, this is a LOT less than we got previously... You might be surprised for the vendor to admit this, but not going to hide this and it is rapidly improving. Further, 95% of cases where they have not been able to log in we investigate and find that details such as email address or mobile number (which are used as part of the login process) have either not been told to the school, or the school have not updated their MIS/have a typo/etc.

 

What I would also say, is that given these sorts of apps are not optional by parents (as in, they have the one from x supplier or nothing, there is no choice), I do not see them going out of their way to give good reviews because it is a tool they are given not one they wanted to go find and enjoy. I expect this to now get refuted and lambasted but I would suggest is most of my fellow competitors apps are similar then there is some truth to this...

[GREED]

I really want to get something that will enable me to email out Individual Reports, Profiles and Timetables to students/parents.

 

As you have mentioned Groupcall:

 

Yes, all of these can be done within Messenger - can be emailed, or emailed with SMS notification, successfully for years. Also includes Exam Timetables.

 

Over the summer we are enhancing the Xpressions parent app to ALSO be able to get at the reports archive, so parents have the choice and the repository

[lwalshaw]

Thanks, that's very positive feedback. The demo looks great, I can't tell though whether I send reports out by email or just get parents to log in?

 

Yes you can send reports using Edulink One