Parent / Carer Communications
Platt Bridge Community School are keen to ensure we provide Parents and Carers different ways in which you can communicate with staff at our school. We additionally believe that communication is key between school and parents to ensure your child thrives in our setting. We therefore offer a number of way to communicate with us and the main methods are outlined below:
We hope you find this page useful and that it goes someway to improving how we communicate with you.
What we Teach your child
There is a vast amount of information on our website Curriculum All Subjects. You can find more about what we teach in each year group by reviewing our Learning Pathways
Written CommunicatioN
As a school we typically use Class Dojo and text messages as a quick way to share information with Parents/Carers. This can be reminders about key events happening in school, attendance matters and links to letters. Please note that all texts will go to first named contacts on our system. Printed copies of key letters can also be received by the school office.
In January 2023 we will launh the Arbor App to run alongside Class Dojo to support Parent/Carer communication. How will parents and carers benefit?
- Check on your child from anywhere: With the Arbor App, you can check in on your children from anywhere – all you need is a phone
- Access important information about your child in one place: See your child’s attendance, behaviour and progress this week as well as for the year so far. You can also see upcoming homework and download report cards for your child
- Get updates from school via push notifications: Get notified when your school sends out a new message via the App
- Make payments on the go: Manage tasks like making payments and booking trips or parents’ evenings
Telephone contact
When you call school (01942 487999) the voice recording take you to the most frequent extension numbers eg school office, attendance, pastoral etc.
Communication with Teachers
As most of our staff are pupil-facing throughout the day the most efficient and convenient way to communicate with school is via telephone. The school office will be more than happy to support you Tel: 01942 487999 Email: enquiries@platrbridge.cfat.org.uk
How to Download the Arbor App?
Click here to download the app for iOS (Apple/iPhone)
Click here to download the app for Android (Google Play Store)
Arbor App Help Centre
What is the Arbor App?
The Arbor App brings all the functionality of the desktop Parent Portal to your phone. You will be able to view your child's attendance statistics, behaviour points, notifications regarding detentions, and can update personal information on your child’s profile.
Downloading the Arbor App & enabling push notifications
Download the app via your phone’s app store. Android users, ensure you have turned on push notifications by going to Settings > Apps > Arbor > Notifications.
iOS users will be prompted to receive push notifications when you download the app, ensure you select ‘allow’.
You must enable push notifications to receive a notification when you have a new in-app message.
If you do not enable this, you will not be alerted to a new message and may miss important information.
Logging in to the app for the first time
- You must enter your email address to log in.
Please note that this must match the email address that we hold on Arbor for you at the school.
If you have any issues logging in, please email us at enquiries@platrbridge.cfat.org.uk so that we can ensure our records match. Once we hold your correct email, you should be able to login without an issue.
2. You then need to select the correct school.
The first time you log in, you will be asked to read and confirm Arbor’s terms and conditions. As a security measure you will be prompted to confirm your child’s date of birth.
(If you have more than 1 child at the school, please confirm the date of birth of your eldest child. Once you are logged in, you will be able to switch between children)
In-App Messages
The school will begin to send in-app messages via Arbor to your phones, this will help us reduce the number of text messages that we send. When you are sent an in-app message, you will receive a push notification (ensure you have enabled this feature on your phone, as detailed above.) In the Arbor App you will see a notification at the bottom right of your screen on the profile icon. Tap this notification, then click to see your messages. You will be taken to the messages page where you can see all messages received. All new messages will be marked as 'new' and will be written in bold. Read messages will be written in normal text.
Troubleshooting
If you are having difficulty accessing the app, first check that the email address you are using to log in, matches what is held with the school office.
Email us at enquiries@platrbridge.cfat.org.uk so that we can assist you. If however, your details are correct and you are still not able to access the Arbor App, here are some steps to take:
- If you have more than one child, make sure you are entering the date of birth of your eldest child to access the app for the first time.
• Only relatives who are primary guardians of a child can access the app. You can ask the school office to confirm if you are listed as Primary guardian. Primary Guardians are the person/s who have parental responsibility for the student.
- Make sure you are accessing the app on a phone; the app will not function on a tablet.
- If however none of the above steps results in you successfully logging in to the App, please contact the school. Please do not contact Arbor directly.
If you have any difficulty using the app or require additional support, please do not hesitate to speak to a Lisa Butler and Adele Simm in the school office.
Class Dojo
This is where current information is shared about what has (and is) happening on a daily basis and also showcases the exceptional work and achievement of our pupils.
Class Dojo is also used to communicate messages to parents/carers.
How to access?
To access Class Dojo and School / Class Story contact the school office by calling 01942 487999 or popping into reception who will provide a activation code.
Any device, any language
- Parents can use any device, iOS or Android, as well as their computer to connect!
- They can read all Class Story posts and direct messages in their preferred language instantly, with automatic text translations in 35+ languages.