This document will outline the key features of SchoolsBuddy and CHQ per module. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. Any features that have an asterisk(*) please see the FAQ document for further details.
General
Feature |
CHQ |
SchoolsBuddy |
Mobile app for parents, staff and students (SB - part native for enhanced user experience) |
✅ |
✅ |
SMS integration* |
✅ |
✅ |
Switch user profiles under the same account |
✅ |
✅ |
Twice daily register sync for attendance from MIS |
✅ |
✅ |
Easily identify where students are for enhanced Safeguarding - ‘Who is Where’ |
✅ |
✅ |
Students attendance status visible to parents |
✅ |
✅ |
Built in Communications for parents, students and staff including SMS and push notifications |
✅ |
✅ |
Customisable forms for parents to complete |
✅ |
|
Parent Portal Custom Links & Pages |
✅ |
|
Parent Portal Twitter Widget |
✅ |
|
Enhanced OpenApply & ManageBac integration |
✅ |
Activities Module
Feature |
CHQ |
SchoolsBuddy |
Upload activities via CSV |
✅ |
|
Preference or First Come First Served activity sign up |
✅ |
✅ |
Event Type Priority |
✅ |
|
One click allocation |
✅ |
✅ |
Pre-allocation of students |
✅ |
✅ |
Manually override to make changes |
✅ |
✅ |
Post allocation Join Requests* |
✅ |
|
Attendance tracking and reporting |
✅ |
✅ |
Control access to activities by a deposit payment |
✅ |
Parent Teacher Conferences
Feature |
CHQ |
SchoolsBuddy |
Create appointment schedules for onsite or online parent meetings |
✅ |
✅ |
Identify eligible students for bookings |
✅ |
✅ |
Clash Management avoids double bookings |
✅ |
✅ |
Set appointment time, length and interval duration |
✅ |
✅ |
Staff can view and print their schedules |
✅ |
✅ |
Make manual bookings on behalf of parent if required* |
✅ |
✅ |
All appointments visible from the parent diary |
✅ |
✅ |
Facilitate student led conferences |
✅ |
|
Flexibility to customise breaks for all day conferences as required |
✅ |
✅ |
Allow staff to manage their own breaks independently, reducing burden on admin staff |
✅ |
Events, Sports and Trips
Feature |
CHQ |
SchoolsBuddy |
Organise sports matches, fixtures and events |
✅ |
✅ |
Create opponent database |
✅ |
✅ |
Request parent consent |
✅ |
✅ |
Send communications to specific groups |
✅ |
✅ |
Generate attendance registers with guardian and medical information also accessible via the app |
✅ |
✅ |
Dependent on events, allow for a deposit or require upfront payment* |
✅ |
School Bookings (Wraparound care)
Feature |
CHQ |
SchoolsBuddy |
Parents can book online in advance for single/ multiple days |
✅ |
✅ |
Cap numbers |
✅ |
✅ |
Require optional upfront payment |
✅ |
|
Parents can cancel previously booked events |
✅ |
✅ |
Auto-generated attendance registers |
✅ |
✅ |
Allow parents to pay via childcare voucher (option to limit parents) |
✅ |
|
Allow parents to pay via previously returned credit (from refunded activities) |
✅ |
|
Optional time based charging |
✅ |
Via Report |
Send communications easily to whole group or just those attending a particular day |
✅ |
✅ |
Parents only see what is relevant to their children |
✅ |
✅ |
Limit parents from booking if they have a bad credit history |
✅ |
|
Organise everything at the start of the year but display booking options to parents within a rolling time period (e.g. parents can only book two weeks in advance) |
✅ |
|
Fast, automated payment chasing notices |
✅ |
Online Payments and Fees
Feature |
CHQ |
SchoolsBuddy |
Take online payments immediately for all school bookings - full or partial payments |
✅ |
✅ |
Require partial payment/ deposit up front for bookings |
✅ |
|
Request payments for school trips, events and more |
✅ |
✅ |
Parents can access their account and pay off items by activity individually or partial payments for larger sums |
✅ |
|
Hassle free activity swap - Parent wallet holds quick credits from cancellations, immediately available to re-book |
✅ |
✅ |
Childcare vouchers are handled for UK schools (option to limit payment by voucher to parents that have a positive balance only) |
✅ |
|
Enhanced parent user interface with the ability to download full payment history |
✅ |
|
Automated chase emails can be sent for unpaid balances |
✅ |
✅ |
Financial reporting |
✅ |
✅ |
Tuition Fee Billing (coming early 2022) |
✅ |
Transport Module
Feature |
CHQ |
SchoolsBuddy |
Create bus routes and schedules |
✅ |
✅ |
Register transport methods for each student including late bus options for After School Activities |
✅ |
✅ |
GPS Tracking (Coming to SB latest Jan 2022) |
✅ |
|
Attendance tracking from mobile devices |
✅ |
✅ |
Parents can make change requests to a transport method |
✅ |
✅ |
Staff approval for parental change requests |
✅ |
|
Dynamic lists make changes if a child has an activity |
✅ |
✅ |
Optional absentee alerts for staff/parents if a child has not arrived |
✅ |