Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown presented almost all areas of society with huge challenges which have continued to run over the last 12 months.
Nowhere has this been more important than in education.
With our return to school now delayed, technology is playing an even bigger role than it did before. In particular, app technology is becoming increasingly essential for mission-critical processes and procedures such as sickness and absence management not to mention communication with pupils and parents.
Better Communication
One of the key benefits of school apps is that it enables better communication across the board. Parents and other stakeholders can easily download a dedicated app onto their smartphone or tablet and have immediate access to all the information they need.
School apps allow two-way communication which has proved invaluable during the pandemic. That means, for example, notifications can be sent to parents.
Communication tools can be used for updates to processes, to tell parents about emergencies such as if a school needs to close, more importantly, it can be used for providing groups and individuals that may be at risk additional support.
Disseminating Learning Materials and Options
While not all the teaching and learning has been passed onto parents, many mums and dads have taken up the mantel of providing key education to their children. Apps allow schools to better order their provision whether it’s live online classes or tutorial materials that pupils can access on demand.
Not every parent, for example, is skilled at using the latest tech such as video conferencing software that can be employed to deliver lessons. Not every parent makes a good homeschooler. Apps help bridge the gap for these individuals and ensure that a more coherent education provision is still available, even during difficult times.
Providing Support
Parents are often not just worried about the educational needs of their kids but have their unique stresses relating to work. Some have been furloughed, many others are faced with the prospect of unemployment because the business they worked for has failed. There are those doing frontline jobs who are working long hours and potentially putting themselves at risk of catching the virus or passing it onto others.
School apps deliver an easy win for headteachers – an online support system that can be tailored to school needs as well as those of parents and pupils. Parents have a clear, one-stop technological solution to get the information they require, all at the touch of a button or in this case an icon.
Updating Regulations
There’s no doubt that one thing we’ve had to get used to is things changing suddenly. At the beginning of the term in the New Year, many of us were expecting to head back to school before the government u-turned overnight. Apps are a great way to get urgent information and updates on the rules out to parents without putting too much pressure on admin.
The Future Benefits of School Apps
Many schools that had previously stuck to the traditional website for communicating with parents are beginning to see the benefits of switching to a more easily accessible app.
Even outside the challenges of the pandemic, this type of technology not only allows for more streamlined services that are available for all but they can help reduce costs and administrative load at the same time.
Hopefully, in the next few months, we’ll begin to start getting back to normal. Beyond the pandemic, school apps provide a responsive and versatile method of communication that can make a huge difference on a wide range of levels.
