4th April 2003.
Leeds, UK
The East Riding School Improvement Service, responsible for all school support services in the East Riding of Yorkshire, has today begun a trial of edutxt. This service, one of the txttools series from mobile technology specialist Cy-nap, allows schools to broadcast text messages instantly from a computer to parents and carers. Recipients may be individuals or groups corresponding to a class, a year group, or even the entire school.
Schools will use the service for many different types of communication. These will include reminders about non-pupil days, ‘child-no-show’ alerts, school social events, or even good news/congratulations messages. Another obvious use for the service will be for short-notice notification of school closure, for example in the event of bad weather conditions.
As edutxt software is free to use and text messages are inexpensive, it is anticipated that this new communication method will not only streamline the work of school administrators but it will also save schools time and money in telephone and photocopying costs. Schools in the East Riding of Yorkshire have the option of paying for the messages themselves, or for parents to be charged a nominal amount for receiving the messages. In the latter case the school will earn money with every message sent, which is a great way of raising funds for the school and will help to cut the costs of the “satchel post” currently used to send information to parents.
“This is an exciting new service for us,” comments Andrew Moore, of the Directorate of Lifelong Learning in the East Riding. “We know from our experience that the vast majority of parents and carers take an active interest in school events. We believe that they will be happy to receive text message updates from the school and eventually it will start to reduce the amount of paper that comes home in the school bag.”
About the Directorate of Lifelong Learning, East Riding of Yorkshire
The official Web site for the East Riding of Yorkshire Council is at www.eastriding.gov.uk
The Directorate of Lifelong Learning is committed to innovation in the use of ICT to support teaching and learning and break down traditional barriers. We will shortly be opening eRiding, a new portal for teaching and learning (into which edutxt will be integrated, along with other tools and services).
About edutxt
“edutxt’, is the first in a series of new text services to be offered by eRiding. Soon the user will also be able to choose from a list of additional services on the eRiding website. Possible options include the use of edutxt to send a series of ‘revision tips’. Another is for pupils to use text chat and SMS messages to learn together in different school subjects.
To experience ‘edutxt’ firsthand, point a browser at www.edutxt.co.uk
“edutxt” has the potential to revolutionise the way schools communicate with parents. The service is capable of delivery to any UK handset as well as to mobile handsets in Europe. “edutxt” is powered by txttools and is one in a comprehensive suite of SMS text application for the mobile technology using consumer. See more at www.txttools.co.uk
About Cy-Nap
“mobile technology helping people to manage their lives”
Cy-nap Ltd was established in January 2001 and is the result of over 14 years of innovation within the technology market.
txttools is used by companies that create services for business to consumer clients and with companies who provide services and content directly to their consumers. These companies encompass a variety of business markets including corporate, publishing, law, web development, retail, health, and many organisations such as schools and surgeries. In fact any group that has a need to communicate to people, be they customers, subscribers, members or staff. SMS text messaging is rapidly opening up new channels for both information and marketing.
For further information please contact:
Nikki Smith/Xanthe Vaughan Williams
Fourth Day Public Relations
t: +44(0)20 7403 4411
e: nikki@fourthday.co.uk
Stephen McCann,
Managing Director
t: +44(0)113 234 2111
m: +44(0)7866 438056
e: smccann@Cy-nap.com
w: www.txttools.co.uk
Lorraine Rollo
Press Officer, East Riding
t: +44(0)1482 391442
e: Lorraine.Rollo@eastriding.gov.uk
