FAQ Categories
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- Why does the school use the service?
Schools are always looking for ways to improve methods for contacting parents quickly and efficiently in the event of sudden changes to the school day.
Often schools rely on telephoning each family directly, or via a ‘telephone tree', methods which are time-consuming and unreliable. Schools will often have to leave messages on answer machines, leaving them unsure as to whether the message has actually reached parents.
By using ClarionCall, the school can instantly send one text message to all parents. Complex messages can be sent with the voice mail service and the school can also track delivery reports, allowing them to target directly those who have not received the message after a certain period of time.
ClarionCall proves a very useful tool when there are significant changes to the normal school day but, more importantly, an invaluable and efficient method of contacting parents quickly in the case of a real school emergency.
- Do I have to use this service?
This will be the school's main means of communicating both logistical problems such as changes to pick-up time, sports events etc and for a real emergency. The school would always make every effort to contact you in an emergency but obviously parents receiving a ClarionCall message will get the message far quicker than by alternative means.
- Will I have to pay to use the service?
All text messages you receive are paid for by the school.
Some texts will ask you to call in and listen to a message. The cost of these calls is charged to your phone bill (depending on which phone you dial from) at your normal call rate.
Experience shows that schools use this service use this service on average five times a year.
- Will my number or e-mail address be sold to or used by third parties?
Absolutely not. Your mobile number is stored on a secure computer that can only be accessed by your school's administrator and will only be used for parental communications.
- I can't access my school's 'datacapture' webpage to enter my contact details?
'Datacapture' is a feature which your school may have opted to use in which case you will have been given an internet address in the form www.clarioncall.co.uk/datacap/[schoolname] and a password.
You need to type the web address you have been provided with by the school into the address bar of your internet browser page. If you type the address into the Google (or equivalent) search bar, you will receive an error message. We have blocked internet search engines locating this site because the 'datacapture' page is a secure site used to store parent contact information and should only be accessible by legitimate school members.
If the web address you have been given is not working, please check that it is along the following lines: www.clarioncall.co.uk/datacap/[schoolname].
Enter your school's name into this address without any capitals or spaces, for example www.clarioncall.co.uk/datacap/stjohns.
If you are still having problems, please contact the School Office who will be able to advise you of the correct web address.
If the parent password you have been given is incorrect, please contact the School Office who can supply you with the correct password.
- Can I have more than one family member on the system?
Yes. Depending on school policy, each pupil can have as many contacts as reasonably necessary, including mother, father, legal guardians, grandparents or an au-pair or nanny.
Contact your school with full contact details should you wish to add further family members to your child(ren)'s record.
- What if my partner does not want to be on the system?
Having both parents on the system improves the chances of making contact in an emergency if, for example, one parent's mobile phone was switched off.
We can, however, set one parent as Priority 1 and any other parent/guardians as Priority 2. The Priority 1 parent will receive all messages whilst the Priority 2 parent/guardian will only receive emergency messages.
You can set your respective priorities when you supply the school with your up-to-date contact details either through the on-line data capture page or on the paper data slip you will have received from the school. Should your priority status change, simply contact the school with any changes and we will update the system.
- What happens if I am a parent at more than one school which uses ClarionCall?
This is not a problem. Both schools will hold your mobile number and text messages will be delivered from both schools. When you call to receive a voice message, the system will recognise that you are involved with more than one school and will ask which school's system you wish to access when you call. The text message you will have received asking you to call in will identify which school has sent you a voice message.
- Will the service work with all mobile networks?
Yes, the ClarionCall service is compatible with all mobile networks.
- What happens if I change my e-mail address or mobile number?
Please notify the school of any changes to your contact details in order to ensure continued receipt of voice, text and e-mail messages.
- Will I receive two copies of every message if I have two children at the school?
No. The ClarionCall system will recognise that your number appears twice, once for each child, and only send one copy of the message to you.
However, if both parents' details are in the system, both parents will receive the message. If you have assigned a Priority 1 and Priority 2 status to each parent, then only Priority 1 parents will receive all messages whilst the Priority 2 parent will only receive emergency messages.
You can assign your priority status when you update your contact information with the school either through the on-line data capture system or the paper data slips. Should your priority status change, please contact the school to update this detail.
- Will I receive messages if I go abroad?
Yes. If you are using your UK mobile whilst abroad for a short time, on holiday for example, you will be able to receive all text and voice messages.
If you live internationally on a full time basis and use an international mobile, your school may choose not to send you routine messages about changes to the school day. These messages will, however, be delivered to the guardian responsible for your child in the UK.
In the event of a school-wide emergency, you will receive all text and voice messages to your mobile.
- Can I receive text messages to my home number?
This facility is not currently available.
- Can I reply to text messages from the school?
The ClarionCall system is designed as a one-to-many broadcast service and does not operate on a one-to-one basis. Text replies are, therefore, not possible.
- Why does the school use the call-in voice message service?
A simple text message, limited to 160 characters, may be insufficient to pass on a detailed message. Listening to a message from a familiar voice is often the best way to convey complex advice. It is possible to say more in one minute than can be written in many text messages.
Dialling in to the service also means that the school receives real-time delivery reports confirming that you have actually listened to the message. The school can then concentrate on contacting directly the few who have not called. This is not possible with a text alone as, although the school could confirm that the text had been delivered to the phone, they could not be certain that it had been read.
Finally, a teacher can record and send a message to all the parents of a group from their mobile phone whilst off-site. For example, a school trip leader can advise directly from the scene if a late return to school, and consequently a late pick up, is likely.
- Why am I not receiving e-mails sent by the school?
Due to the large amount of unsolicited e-mail sent on the internet, e-mails from an unrecognised address are often automatically filtered by e-mail providers (such as Hotmail, Yahoo etc) and e-mail programs (such as Outlook Express etc) into a 'spam' or ‘junkmail' folder.
The easiest way to prevent this is to add the domain @myclarioncall.co.uk to your own address book or ‘spam whitelist'. Instructions on how to do this can be found at http://www.clarioncall.co.uk/whitelist .
Personal PC security products such as Anti-Virus and Firewall services can also prevent the delivery of unrecognised e-mail.
In order to receive e-mails from your school you will need to add the domain @myclarioncall.co.uk to your trusted/approved list on any service that may interfere with reliable delivery. Instructions on how to do this can be found at http://www.clarioncall.co.uk/whitelist .
If you register a work e-mail address to receive school messages, you should be aware that the company may use spam filters to reject e-mail it does not recognise.
To avoid this please contact your IT Manager or Webmaster and ask them to add the domain @myclarioncall.co.uk to their list of approved senders.
Note that if you leave your job you should change your registered e-mail address with the school or your company will continue to receive school e-mails.
- Can I reply to e-mails sent from the school?
This is dependent on your own school's policy and you should check the wording and/or the footer of any e-mail you receive from the school for details on replying to e-mails
- Why am I not receiving text messages sent by the school?
The most likely reason for this is that your mobile number has been entered incorrectly in the school's records.
Please contact the school office to confirm your up-to-date and accurate mobile phone number.
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