Parent Portals Schools Actually Use: What Makes Families Log In

Many schools have a parent portal. Far fewer have one that parents open. Most are built around the school's admin: letters, forms, payments and policies. Parents log in when they have to and forget about it otherwise.

Two platforms we've built have parents at their heart: E2P+SEND, used by 352 UK schools, and COMPASS, an autism programme platform shared by trainers, teachers and parents. Here's what makes families come back.

Show them their own child

Parents rarely know what their child did at school today, what they tried for the first time or what they learned. That's the most valuable thing a portal can show. In E2P+SEND, teachers share observations and photos of the child's progress, so the portal becomes something parents look forward to, not a chore.

Let them take part, not just read

In COMPASS, parents contribute through surveys and updates, so they relate to their child's progress and are part of the plan, not just told about it. Portals that ask families for something meaningful, not just a signature, get used.

Make it quick on a phone

Most parents check on their phone, often in a spare minute. If the portal needs a desktop, a password reset and five clicks, it won't be used. Keep the first screen about the child.

Notify sparingly

A notification for every newsletter trains parents to ignore them. Notify for things about their child; bundle the rest.

Respect privacy

Parents should see their own child and nothing else. Photos with other children need care. Clear access rules, built to GDPR rules for UK schools, are the foundation.

Keep admin in its place

Letters, forms and payments still matter. Put them where parents can find them, but don't let them crowd out the part families value.

Read more

• Tracking early years progress without more paperwork
• Replacing REDCap forms and spreadsheets with a research platform
• Early years and SEND software

Should a school build its own parent portal?

Usually not. Most schools are better served by a proven platform. A custom portal makes sense for platform builders, trusts or programmes with a specific way of working, like a SEND or research programme.

How do you get parents to use a school portal?

Show them their own child's progress, make it easy on a phone and only notify them about things that matter to them.

Can parents contribute to their child's record?

Yes, where it helps. COMPASS lets parents contribute through surveys, and that participation is a big part of why families stay engaged.