How to improve communication between schools and parents

Why this matters for UK schools

School communication succeeds when every message has a clear purpose, reaches the right families through a channel they actually use, and makes the required action obvious. Below is our step-by-step implementation guide for school leaders and office teams.

Practical steps

1. 1Replace scattered channels with one predictable home for announcements, forms and dates.
2. 2Label every message clearly with the child's name, class, deadline and single required action.
3. 3Publish quiet hours so families know when routine updates are sent and how emergencies are escalated.
4. 4Track authenticated portal opens and outstanding actions rather than relying on email tracking pixels.
5. 5Provide accessible browser and email fallbacks so families without app-store access are never excluded.

Sources and further reading

• DfE — Data protection in schools
• DfE — Digital and technology standards