To send texts to pupil contacts go to AutoText > Send messages. Select the Pupil Contacts tab in the Send to section of this screen.
The amount of contacts' data you will be able to see will depend on your own MIS settings. You may be able to see all the data in the fields or you may see only the names of the pupils whose contacts you will be texting. To have full access to all contact information you need to have view secure MIS data permissions enabled in your USO account profile.
The ability to text pupil contacts is dependent on your school exporting MIS data to Atomwide using AutoUpdate.
This functionality enables you to send texts to defined groups of pupil contacts. Click on the radio button next to School to text all pupil contacts or select an entire class year or a particular class. Each pupil can have up to six contacts so if you do not wish to text them all, you can filter the list to show the Lead contact only by selecting that tick box.
Every time you change your selection, the details, which will appear below the Send to box, will update automatically.
When the list of contacts is generated, text to the left of the table informs you how many contacts there are in the list. Below the number of contacts it will show the number of recipients. The number of recipients may be smaller than the number of contacts as some parents may have the same mobile number registered. Duplicate mobile numbers will be ignored so only those with a unique mobile number will receive a text. This ensures that no contact number receives more than one message, saving the school money in the process.
The cost of sending the required amount of text messages is calculated automatically based on the number of recipients (not the number of contacts) and appears in the centre of the screen in bold blue text.
To remove individual contacts from the send list, untick the box to the right of their names. The row will still remain visible but any contact who is not ticked will not be sent a message.
See also:
Send messages to a mobile number
Send messages to a pre-defined staff list
Send messages regarding pupil absence
