13th July 2015

Dear Parents and Carers

Improve your links with school

The school is going to implement Schoolcomms, a school communication system that will replace the current KKS system from 1st September 2015. This will enable you to receive all your communications from school quickly and reliably. We can send letters by email to your inbox and short messages directly to your mobile phone as a text message, or if you have either an Apple or Android mobile phone, by app message.

You will:

  Receive letters more reliably and promptly

  See letters in your inbox like any other email

  Get a short text message or app message if we need to contact you urgently (will try phoning first)

  Still get paper letters if you don’t have email

  Not need to rely on your child for delivery

o Be able to reply by email, text or app message

o Be able to make online payments for trips, after school clubs etc (See Guidance notes attached to this letter).

You will NOT be able to telephone school by using the number that appears on your screen, you must telephone school when necessary on 0161 330 4755.

We can:

  Send more letters and information

  Save money on admin time, printing and paper

  Contact you urgently when necessary (will try telephoning you)

Next steps:

1.  The school will use the email address and mobile number that we hold for the Priority one contact(s). If you are NOT certain that we have your correct details, please use the reply slip provided. If your current details are correct you do not need to complete the reply slip below.

2.  If you DO NOT have an Apple or Android device, skip to step 6

3.  Go to your app store and search for “School Gateway” and download the app

4.  Once downloaded, select the “I’m a New User” button; enter your email address and mobile number that we have on record for you. Select Send PIN and a PIN number will be text to your mobile phone

5.  Log in with your email address and the PIN, your account is now active and you will receive instant notifications of messages in your notifications bar

6.  If you change your contact details please let the school know as soon as possible

P.T.O

Schoolcomms is registered with the data protection act. All information you provide will be kept private and will not be passed on to any other organisation. Your details will only be used for the purpose of school business. You will not receive any SPAM or marketing material.

Over the next couple of weeks you may get a text/email from school, this will be nothing to worry about we will just be testing the system.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact the school office on 0161 330 4755

Yours sincerely,

E. HORRIDGE

Head Teacher

ONLY USE THIS SLIP IF YOUR CURRENT DETAILS ARE NOT CORRECT

I give/do not give (delete as appropriate) permission for my email address & mobile number to be used to receive information from school.

Priority 1 Parent name

Children/s names Class

Children/s names Class

Children/s names Class

Email address Mobile telephone number

Signature Date

ONLINE PAYMENTS GUIDE

You can now make online payments to school via credit or debit card

I’m pleased to advise that we’ve introduced a new service - ‘School Gateway’. This means that you will be able to make online payments via the School Gateway smartphone app or website.

We will notify you when new items such as school trips, after school clubs or tickets for events are available for payment on School Gateway.

School Gateway will also make it easier for parents to pay any time 24-7 and reduce the amount of cash being carried by children on school premises.

What you need to do now

Activate your School Gateway account. It’s quick and easy to do. All you need are your email address and mobile number that school holds on record for you.

Download the app: If you have a smartphone, please download School Gateway from your app store (Android and iPhone). The app shows the same information as the website PLUS it saves the school money when we send you a text message.

OR

Visit the website: www.schoolgateway.com and click on ‘New User’. You’ll receive a text message with a PIN number. Use this PIN to log into School Gateway. Please keep your PIN in a safe place. As long as you DO NOT log off the App you will not need your PIN again.

If you’re having trouble logging in, it may be because the school doesn’t have your current email and mobile phone number on record. Please call the school and we’ll update the details on our system.

We hope that you will find School Gateway to be a fast and easy way to pay for school items.