School Jotter Podcast – Website Accessibility

School Jotter Podcast – School Podcasting

Schools in the UK have a legal obligation to maintain a certain level of performance and quality of education. One of the ways that this is monitored is through Ofsted inspections. Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) is the non-ministerial government department responsible for inspecting and regulating schools and other education settings in England. The Ofsted inspection process can be a stressful time for schools, and preparation is key. However, with the help of School Jotter, schools can be alerted to upcoming Ofsted inspections by monitoring policy download statistics.

As part of its compliance checks, Ofsted inspectors will typically review a school’s website to ensure that it meets certain requirements. Some of the things that Ofsted looks for on a school website include:

1. Contact information: Schools are required to provide up-to-date contact information on their website, including the school’s address, telephone number, and email address. This information should be easy to find and clearly displayed.
2. Curriculum information: Ofsted expects schools to provide detailed information about the curriculum they offer, including what is taught in each subject, how progress is assessed, and how students are supported to achieve their full potential. This information should be easily accessible on the school’s website.
3. Safeguarding policies and procedures: Schools must have robust safeguarding policies and procedures in place to ensure that students are safe from harm. Ofsted inspectors will check that these policies are available on the school’s website and that they are up-to-date and reflect best practice.
4. SEN information: Schools must provide information about how they support students with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. This information should be easily accessible on the school’s website and should include details of any specialist resources or services that are available.
5. Pupil premium and sports premium: Schools that receive pupil premium and/or sports premium funding must provide information on how this funding is used to support disadvantaged students and improve outcomes for all students. Ofsted inspectors will check that this information is available on the school’s website and that it is up-to-date.

School Jotter is a platform that provides a range of digital tools to help schools manage their online presence, communicate with parents, and engage with students. One of the features of School Jotter is the ability to monitor policy document downloads. This means that schools can see when lots of policy documents are downloaded and under what time frame. By monitoring these statistics, the platform can flag impending Ofsted inspections, giving leadership and staff prior warning to prepare.

The policy documents that schools need to have in place cover a range of areas, from health and safety to safeguarding. Ofsted inspectors will look for evidence that schools are meeting their legal obligations in these areas, and that policies are up to date and followed. By monitoring policy download statistics, School Jotter can help schools identify when policies are being downloaded more frequently than usual. This could indicate that an inspection is imminent, and that staff and leadership need to ensure that all policies are up to date and that everyone is following them.

In addition to monitoring policy downloads, School Jotter also offers a range of tools that can help schools prepare for Ofsted inspections. For example, the platform includes a customisable self-evaluation tool that can help schools identify areas of strength and weakness. This can be a valuable resource for schools when preparing for inspections, as it helps them to identify areas that may need improvement and to develop strategies for improvement.

School Jotter also provides a range of communication tools that can be used to engage with parents and the wider school community. This can be particularly useful when preparing for Ofsted inspections, as it allows schools to demonstrate that they are actively engaging with parents and seeking their input. By using School Jotter’s communication tools, schools can also keep parents informed about the inspection process, which can help to reduce anxiety and build trust.

In conclusion, School Jotter is an invaluable tool for schools preparing for Ofsted inspections. By monitoring policy download statistics and providing a range of digital tools, schools can be better prepared for inspections and ensure that they are meeting their legal obligations. The ability to monitor policy downloads can provide early warning of inspections, allowing schools to ensure that all policies are up to date and followed. Additionally, School Jotter’s self-evaluation tool can help schools identify areas for improvement, and its communication tools can be used to engage with parents and the wider community. With the help of School Jotter, schools can feel more confident and prepared for Ofsted inspections, ensuring that they are providing high-quality education for their students.

If you are interested in learning more about Ofsted Inspection Alerts and having an Ofsted Compliant Website speak to our team.

School Jotter provides high-quality website and app solutions to schools, making communication and administration easier. The company has received positive feedback from its customers who have praised its products and services. In this blog post, we will highlight some of the reviews received by School Jotter from satisfied customers.

Here at School Jotter, we take great pride in providing schools with high-quality websites and apps that make communication and administration easier than ever before. That’s why we’re thrilled to receive such positive feedback from our customers, who have nothing but good things to say about our products and services.

In November 2022, The FrenchAm Schools raved about their experience with School Jotter after a sales demo. “School Jotter was absolutely awesome,” they said. “School Jotter helped me understand the product offered and was able to answer all my questions. Great team. Thank you.”

In September 2022, Hollycroft Primary School (OWLS Academy Trust) was equally impressed after a sales demo. “Great even did the questionnaire for us. Magic!” they exclaimed.

St. John the Evangelist CofE Primary School was also delighted with School Jotter’s customer service and support during their sales demo in September 2022. “Great customer service and support,” they said.

Hertford Vale C.E Primary School had a productive meeting with School Jotter in September 2022, thanking them for “lots of good advice about the website and app” and stating it was “a very productive meeting.”

Saffron Green Primary School, Rubery Nursery School, Little Heath School in Redbridge, St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Newchurch, Silloth Primary School, and Orchard Park Community Primary School were also delighted with their experience with School Jotter, giving positive reviews after their sales demos or meetings.

At Lower Wortley Primary School, School Jotter’s representative, Claire, was particularly noted for his friendly and knowledgeable demeanour. “Claire was friendly and knowledgeable about the products on offer,” they said. “Claire could answer questions well and provided us with examples of different websites available.”

School Jotter has been a trusted provider of high-quality websites and mobile apps for schools for over 20 years. During that time, we have created thousands of custom solutions for schools of all sizes and types, helping them to communicate more effectively with students, parents, and staff, and to streamline their administrative processes.

Our team of expert designers, developers, and support staff are committed to delivering top-notch website and app solutions that meet the unique needs of each school we work with. Whether you need a simple website to showcase your school’s offerings or a complex app that can handle everything from attendance tracking to homework assignments, we have the expertise and experience to make it happen.

We take great pride in our ability to provide exceptional customer service and support to all of our clients. Our team is always available to answer questions, provide guidance, and address any concerns or issues that may arise. And when you work with School Jotter, you can rest assured that you are getting a high-quality product that is backed by our commitment to excellence and our long-standing reputation in the industry.

So if you’re interested in learning more about what School Jotter can do for your school, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team will be happy to provide you with more information about our services, answer any questions you may have, and help you get started on the path to a more effective and efficient school communication and administration system.

Mobile phones have become an integral part of daily life, and this is especially true for parents in the UK. With an overwhelming majority of UK adults using smartphones, it’s no surprise that mobile devices have become a go-to tool for managing family schedules, keeping in touch with loved ones, and accessing important information about children’s health and well-being. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at 10 statistics about parents and the use of mobile phones in the UK, highlighting the growing importance of digital communication tools in modern family life.

Here are 10 statistics about parents and the use of mobile phones in the UK:

1. According to a survey by Common Sense Media, 75% of UK parents say they feel addicted to their mobile phones.
2. A study by Ofcom found that 79% of UK adults use a smartphone, with the majority of users checking their phones within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning.
3. A survey by YouGov found that 47% of UK parents say they use their mobile phone during family meals, with 12% admitting to using their phones “all the time” during meals.
4. According to a survey by Parent Zone, 90% of UK parents say they allow their children to use mobile phones or tablets at home, with the majority of children getting their first device between the ages of 6 and 10.
5. A study by Deloitte found that 76% of UK parents use their mobile phones to help manage their family’s schedule and activities.
6. According to a survey by Netmums, 71% of UK parents say they use their mobile phones to keep in touch with friends and family, with 62% saying they use social media apps to do so.
7. A study by O2 found that 69% of UK parents use their mobile phones to take and share photos and videos of their children.
8. According to a survey by Mumsnet, 63% of UK parents say they use their mobile phones to read news and current events, with 34% saying they check the news multiple times a day.
9. A survey by Barnardo’s found that 70% of UK parents say they use their mobile phones to access information about their children’s health and well-being, such as medical advice and appointment reminders.
10. According to a survey by Statista, the average daily time spent on mobile devices in the UK is 3 hours and 23 minutes, with 68% of that time spent on smartphones.

The statistics show that mobile phones are an integral part of the daily lives of UK parents, with many using their phones to manage their family’s schedule and activities, keep in touch with friends and family, and access information about their children’s health and well-being. Additionally, many parents allow their children to use mobile phones and tablets at home, highlighting the importance of digital communication in modern family life.

Given these trends, it’s clear that schools can benefit from investing in digital communication tools that make it easier for parents to stay informed and engaged with their child’s education. The School Jotter app offers a range of features that make it easier for parents to access school news, photos, and other important information on the go. With galleries, news calendars, and notifications that sync with the school website, parents can stay up to date with school activities and events without having to check multiple sources.

By providing a delightful experience for parental engagement communication, the School Jotter app can help schools strengthen their relationship with parents and improve overall communication and engagement. With more parents relying on mobile devices to stay informed and connected, schools that invest in digital communication tools are more likely to meet the needs and expectations of today’s parents. Overall, the School Jotter app is a smart investment for schools looking to improve parent-school communication and engagement.

School Jotter has just released its latest frontend update for March, bringing a number of exciting new features and improvements to the platform. Here are some of the highlights:

• New frontend release: The updated School Jotter frontend features a cleaner, more modern design that is easier on the eyes and simpler to navigate. The new look is more intuitive and user-friendly, making it easier for students, teachers, and parents to find the information they need.
• Profile page cleaner: The profile page has been streamlined to make it more visually appealing and easier to navigate. Users can now easily view and update their personal information, including their profile picture, contact information, and preferences.
• List pages with handles: The list pages have been improved to display only top-level items with handles, making it easier to browse and find the information you need. You can now see more items on the page and use filters for enhanced usability.
• New content icons: The insert content feature has new icons to make it more user-friendly and intuitive. The icons are designed to help you quickly and easily insert a variety of content types, such as images, videos, and documents.

The School Jotter 3 March release offers a range of new features and improvements that will help make the platform more user-friendly, efficient, and enjoyable to use. Whether you are a student, teacher, or parent, these updates will make it easier for you to find the information you need and stay connected with your school community.

77% of internet users read blogs. Blogs are an efficient way to inform, entertain and engage an audience with ease. Hence, we are going to share with you 5 tips to write an effective academic blog!

Writing and managing a blog may take some effort, but it can prove to be crucial in setting up effective school communication between teachers and parents.

Let us take a look at some tips you can incorporate to write an engaging academic blog to keep parents updated about all the happenings of the academic year.

Adding a blog to your existing website can increase its traffic by a whopping 434%. With educational institutions, however, the goal isn’t simply to draw traffic to their website. It is to keep students and their parents in the loop about the happenings of the school.

Creating an academic blog helps bring transparency to the way a school facilitates the learning of its students. Given below are the five tips you can follow to write a dynamic academic blog to keep students and parents up to date with the academic year:

1. Know your audience base 

Creating authentic content that engages your readers begins by identifying the audience first and foremost. Who will be reading your blog? Who will it be targeted at? Students and their parents. 

The content you create should be meant for them. For example, if you want to create a blog post about the importance of physical activity for students, it should be aimed at encouraging parents to ensure that their children stay active.

2. Ensure it is accessible to the parents

No matter how good your content is, it will only fulfil its purpose when your target audience will be able to access it. Ensure that they receive the blog posts with ease. You may send them notifications, messages, or emails with the link to the blog.

You can also share them on social media to extend your reach. Another way to make sure parents see them is to share them in the places which parents frequent, such as community forums and the academic calendar on your website.

3. Provide a navigation path 

To ensure increased and consistent engagement from the parents, educate them on how they can make the most out of blogs. Simple things such as knowing how to search a blog or leave comments can help them authentically engage with you. 

Give clear navigation paths to parents via messages and emails. You may also do this in a face-to-face setting. Encourage them to ask questions in case they get stuck at any step. It helps them become a part of a wider blogging community. 

4. Publish static information on your blog

Add additional pages to your blog that provide stationary information about your blog and school in general. It can act as an anchor for new readers and even older ones in case they wish to look for something particular. 

Create an index of sorts where you explain the goal of the blog and divide content into groups. Add information about how to navigate the blog and how readers can get more involved by way of commenting and sharing. 

5. Offer regular opportunities for involvement 

Offer opportunities for parents to get more involved with your blog. One of the simplest ways to do this is by ending every blog with a question for them to answer in the comments. They may also share their answers on social media.

Another way to do this is by asking for guest posts by parents that may be published, say, once a month. Keen writers may send in their thoughts, making the blog much more engaging for  its audience. 

Conclusion 

While many schools host blogs on their websites, they often struggle to maintain them or come up with new content. The target audience for your blog is often the parents of the students.

Focus on creating content that keeps them in the loop about the academic year in an entertaining manner. You can also involve them with the blog more by encouraging them to comment and share the blog posts. 

If you’d like to know more, don’t forget to get in touch! At School Jotter we love chatting about all things education and how to make it fun!

Around 41% of parents agree that they would like their child’s school to communicate with them more often.

School communication, both internally between teachers and students and externally with parents is one of the foundations of effective all-around learning.

School website calendars are a means for schools to organise school events as well as keep everyone from teachers, staff, students, and parents in the loop about the happenings at school.

Let us take a look at ways to optimise the functionality of your website calendar that strengthens communication between schools, students, and parents.

3 features of a school website calendar

A school website calendar is a schedule of all school events during an academic year displayed on the school website for everyone to see and use. School staff, students, and parents use this to keep up with the school events and not miss out on anything.

A regular school website calendar will include:

● Term time dates

● School holidays

● Activities and events such as Sports Day, Book Fair, etc.

● Examination dates

● Inset days & teacher training dates

Here are the 3 features that are a must-have for your school website calendar.

1. User-friendly for parents and staff

The purpose of a school calendar is to help teachers and students pre-plan activities and stay ahead in their curriculum. This is why the most important feature your calendar needs to have is user-friendliness and ease of use.

The calendar loses all its purpose if the people it is meant for are not able to use it the way it is intended. The interface should be personalised, meaning a user will only see events that pertain to them.

For example, a student who has opted for drama classes but not for music classes should be able to view all drama class-related events and no events related to music classes. This keeps the calendar from becoming too convoluted.

Secondly, not everyone is well-versed with technology. They should be able to view and use a calendar without putting in much work. Steps to set reminders and highlight events should be simplified.

2. Personalization and customization

Another important feature to have is one that facilitates personalization. Parents and staff should be able to use the calendar how they wish to. This could be in the form of highlighting events that pertain to them or hiding/silencing ones that don’t.

We have already talked about setting the calendar to your personal setting such as only seeing events related to the classes you are a part of or interested in. This helps in keeping the calendar clean and organised.

People can always access the ‘master calendar’ to view all the events at once whenever they want. Moreover, you should make sure that people with disabilities are also able to have a personalised experience with your calendar.

3. Mobile-friendly experience

Over 55% of website views come from mobile. Your school website calendar should provide a mobile-friendly experience to make it accessible to all. See if the font, images, and graphics are well-suited for a mobile layout or not.

A way to put your school calendar in the parent’s pockets is via mobile apps. Make your calendar a key feature in your school mobile app. Enable it with features such as notifications and mobile-friendly UI & UX.

This has the dual effect of not having to remind parents or teachers to check school calendars regularly. And they will receive reminders about events with ease. They will not have to go to the school calendar on the website anymore, the school calendars will come to them, so to speak.

Conclusion

School calendars are an excellent way to keep everyone associated with schools in the loop about their workings. When creating a school website calendar, your focus should be on making it user-friendly and accessible.

Everyone from the staff, parents, teachers, and students should be able to view events that pertain to them and plan for them accordingly. Making them Mobile-friendly goes a long way in integrating school calendars into the daily life of people seamlessly.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the way schools and other educational institutions are managed has been transformed significantly. 

Schools are nowadays deploying personalised mobile apps to facilitate superior communication between parents and teachers. And this is only one of the benefits of deploying a school app.

How can parents be more involved in school life?

When it comes to traditional norms, parents generally attend their child’s school physically to maintain track of the student’s progress. However, in this era, such a practice has become unnecessary. Most parents are busy these days and it can be difficult for them to visit their children’s schools often.

Thanks to the availability of school apps, parents may still stay in touch with their kids’ schools, and that too, in real-time. 

Since school apps are meant for mobile phones, parents can stay in touch even on the go. All they need is a mobile device and a reliable internet connection. As you can understand, school apps have significantly transformed how parents communicate with teachers and school admins.

Parents can also read school letters, key calendar events, as well as submit their child’s absence forms online through these custom apps, saving school administrators’ time and making things easier for parents.

Focus on your school to home communications

Mobile-based school apps can be used to provide convenience and link individuals to the information they need in their daily lives. 

Students and parents can receive the most up-to-date information on school events and extracurricular activities via apps, which can also serve as a quick reference point for communication of the following:

• School news
• Letters home
• Emergency notices
• Calendar events
• Important Links
• View photos and galleries of school life
• Submit forms, such as for child absences

It is a given that school apps can facilitate real-time updates and communication, keeping parents in the loop, with push notifications so that parents are alerted of new content and updates from the school.

Utilise multiple communication channels for positive engagement

Communication can be facilitated in a variety of ways, ranging from email to social media. However, each channel has a maximum capacity for the type of communication it can handle. Email, for example, is best for sending academic resources, social media is best for community discussions,  and mobile apps are best for pushing content to parents.

Conclusion

As we speak, the pandemic has almost vanished from most parts of the world. As life returns to normal, children have started returning to their schools and parents are working overtime to ensure that their children have a successful academic year. As it stands, parents are becoming busier than ever.

At the same time, the right extent of communication between parents and teachers is of utmost importance as far as the students’ overall development is concerned. This is where a school app comes into action.

We believe this blog will help you make the right decision, as far as deploying a school app is concerned. It is time to take your teacher-student-parent communication to the next level.

The pandemic may be on the decline but it has truly transformed the way we operate in every facet of our lives. Education and learning face an especially uphill battle. 7 million students in special education are currently affected by the pandemic.

The newer remote-heavy approach has, however, opened doors for new opportunities as well. The digital revolution gives us both the tech and the infrastructure to help disabled learners get equal learning opportunities in the comfort of their homes. 

The challenge remains in using technological advancement in including students with disabilities in the remote learning landscape. The goal is to help them learn efficiently and progress in every way possible.

5 steps to make remote learning accessible 

Students with disabilities usually have complex communication needs. They are not able to talk freely, which is why their teachers have to rely on visual indicators to provide them alternative choices to respond. This becomes difficult to replicate in online classes. 

Below are some ways to make remote learning accessible to learners with special needs. 

1. Utilise creativity and flexibility 

You can begin by grouping students that need special attention. Provide them with a user interface that is designed to accommodate their needs. Talk to them and ask what would make learning easier for them. 

Moreover, you can provide instruction modules, elaborate study material, and resources. The idea is to be creative and treat every student based on their needs. 

2. Support the students’ families for their success 

Educational institutions should ideally keep the parents of students in the loop at all times. It becomes even more important with special students.

Educating them about dealing with learning challenges goes a long way in making sure the learner receives an ideal learning environment at home. 

Train them to use the platform the learner is going to use. Let them know about the assignments to be handed out in advance. 

3. Focus on the key learning outcomes

Discuss with the administrators what learning outcomes are the most pivotal to the learning curve of a student. Focus on them and drop what is not needed. 

Do this on a student-to-student basis instead of the whole group together. Understand that not all students are learning at the same pace and some might need more time to grasp the same concepts. 

4. Ensure the content is accessible 

A crucial element of online learning is to ensure that students can access the information the way it is meant to. Students must be well equipped to make use of the content provided to them. 

See if they can log in to the class successfully, know how to use the keyboard correctly, can zoom in on the pictures and PDFs, and use closed captioning on videos when required. 

If the learners are unable to perform these tasks, take time aside to teach them these basics in a simplified manner. 

5. Conduct an audit of your website 

Conduct a thorough audit of your website to make sure it is accessible to all learners. It can be something as simple as the font size that may make it difficult for a user to use it with ease. 

Check that your website offers smooth navigation and clear access to PDFs and videos. Make note of what needs amends to improve on them. You may even ask learners themselves for feedback. 

Conclusion

The technological advancement in the wake of the pandemic has provided us with opportunities to revamp our educational infrastructure in more ways than one. We can especially help learners with disabilities by making learning more accessible to them than it ever was.

A little bit of planning and a proactive approach by teachers can help learners with special needs access and enjoy education opportunities akin to their peers. Train them and their parents to use platforms correctly and access learning materials. 

Keep them in the loop to relay necessary information and receive feedback. Act immediately in case they need assistance. Lastly, and most importantly, keep encouraging them to keep learning.

In the digital age, social media has emerged as a significant player in building your school’s marketing strategy.

Establishing a power packed digital presence becomes imperative for any school that wants to reach out to new parents, highlight what’s best about the school and convey the institution’s key values and ethos.

If you’re merely posting pictures at random without a concrete plan of action, you’re yet to fully utilise the power of social media to your advantage.

When most of your time and effort are dedicated to running your school, managing Instagram and Facebook may seem too time-consuming and burdensome.

Still wondering how to begin and make things better?

We’ve listed down five ways in which your school can ace the social media game.

5 social media tips to focus on your school

Social media can do a lot of work for you if you know how to harness its potential the right way. The latest social media tools along with the right content expands your school’s reach without overwhelming you with too many technicalities.

Let us walk you through a few social media tips that’ll help keep the focus on your school.

1. Give your audience something that they love 

There’s enough negativity floating all around. You certainly don’t want to add to it through social media posts. Your school’s page should be an epitome of fun, positivity and learning and the posts should reflect that spirit.

Help your institution develop a unique voice, one that’ll draw people’s attention with its distinct appeal and subtle marketing. Give your audience something that’ll compel them to click on “like”, “love” and “share”. Step up your creativity quotient and come up with fresh, original and witty posts. 

2. Reflect on your brand 

You’ve worked hard to create a brand value for your school. Now is the time to let that brand’s aura and goodwill shine through. Use social media to showcase your school’s key values and its USPs.

This will go a long way in bringing in an audience for your content and building a relationship of trust with them. It’s not just the quality of your posts that makes a difference. What matters most is how you engage with people on social media.

3. Never take it as the only way to reach the public  

While social media is an effective medium to create a wider outreach, it’s not the only way of reaching out to your target audience. Sure, its popularity has skyrocketed in the post-Covid era.

Not everyone is active on social media. In order to achieve success, explore other avenues such as newsletters, emails, publications and many more. 

4. Use unique visuals to captivate your audience 

Let those unique visuals and eye-catching videos highlight the distinctive character of your school. When a post is accompanied by some interesting visual reference, it drives home your point more effectively. Such posts find huge favour with social media algorithms and the public likes them too!

Try video content to generate better engagement and attract attention much quicker than static posts. Get creative with Instagram reels, stories, YouTube shorts – there’s no dearth of options on social media when it comes to content creation. 

5. Utilise as readers for bigger announcements 

You don’t have to reveal every bit of information on your school’s social media handle. Facilitate interactions that are beyond the digital space. You can use social media for teaser announcements for big events. Such posts are informative in nature, notifying your audience about the date, time, venue and purpose of the event but don’t reveal anything else. This heightens the curiosity and encourages people to join.

Conclusion 

Several factors contribute towards carving out a strong social media presence for any school. It may seem like a daunting task but with the right guidance and appropriate tools, there’s nothing much to worry about. After all, social media is inarguably the most potent channel for connecting with your audience and giving your school’s reputation a massive boost.