With the SMS module and credits, you can text parents. Each message costs 1 credit per parent, or 2 if it is over 150 characters.
Your School must have the SMS module enabled and enough credits to send an SMS to Parents. An SMS Message to a parent will cost 1 credit if this message is over 150 characters long this will cost 2 credits. For example, 1 SMS message to 10 Parents will cost 10 credits, if the message exceeds 150 characters it will cost 20 credits.
Enabling SMS
SchoolsBuddy sends SMS messages through its SMS partner, MessageBird. Your school needs registration approval before you can send messages. To check on progress, contact SchoolsBuddy Support. You can test with up to five recipients first.
Sending an SMS
1. Click the 'Reception' and then 'Send Communication' tab.
2. Select the 'SMS' option when selecting 'Send via'
3. To select who receives the message, click the 'Select Recipients' tab.
4. When selected, a pop-up box will appear on the screen. When selecting the recipients you have the option of sending the message to just Parents, Pupils, Staff Members or every member of the Group which will include Staff. You can choose from the Following (These can be filtered by using the search bar and the drop-down bar):-
- Individual Parent / Pupil / Staff
- Specific Group
- Year / Grade
- Whole School
Parents / Pupils / Staff must have a valid mobile number linked to their SchoolsBuddy account (If your School has an MIS link, this will be automatically imported with Parent/Pupil/Staff Information). When the recipient is selected it will display what person/group/year is receiving the message, an example of this is shown in the image below.
Please note: you can select multiple groups/years or grades or individuals
5. To select the recipient click the 'Add.........' tab. When all the correct recipients have been selected, click the green 'Continue' tab.
6 . Now the message can be created:-
- SMS Balance: this shows how many SMS credits your Schools has available (credits can be purchased through the SchoolsBuddy Sales Team)
- SMS Message Body: Body text of the SMS (If the message exceeds 150 characters will cost 2 credits per recipient)
When the correct message has been created, select the green 'Send' tab.
8. The message will take a few minutes to be delivered to the recipients.
9. Sent messages will appear below the 'Send' tab within the Send Communication | SMS tab. It will show what was sent in the body of the SMS message, how many recipients there were of the message and how many of those recipients were valid.
- You can also Export a (CSV) file report. This will give you a CSV file containing the Last Name, First Name, Mobile Number of the recipients, and confirmation whether or not the message was successfully sent.
You can also Export a (CSV) file report.
10. Parents will receive the message on their mobile device (assuming their number in SchoolsBuddy is valid). The image below is an example of how the message will look when the recipients have received it. The sender name can be customized and it will read as your School's name.
Mobile number format
Parent mobile numbers in your MIS must use the country code followed by the number, for example +447700900123. Otherwise messages fail.
Texting US numbers
US rules require A2P 10DLC registration. Before you text US numbers:
- Every recipient must have opted in. Your school records who consented, when, and the number.
- Recipients must be able to reply STOP to unsubscribe and HELP for help.
Extra approvals apply, so contact SchoolsBuddy Support before you enable SMS for US numbers.