Available to use on any web browser including smartphones, PTAsocial is designed for parents, teachers and PTA committee members. It enables them to share information about school events, volunteering opportunities and up-to-date news.
PTAsocial helps with organising and managing PTA events, while creating a secure social network for parents to connect with other parents in their school.
PTA organisers can use the app to publish detailed task lists, then send a message to the whole school to appeal for volunteers. Parents click and browse to choose exactly how they will help, and tick a box to volunteer. Organisers can also assign helpers to tasks via PTAsocial, and the app notifies them automatically by email. They can message all the relevant helpers for any specific task and have a two-way conversation on the task “message wall”. Members can instantly see what tasks others are doing, and offer help where it is needed.
Tes Macpherson, creator of PTAsocial, said: “PTAs raise vital funds for schools but many parents feel like they cannot help as it is too time-demanding. PTAsocial makes life easier for committee members, because it enables more parents to get involved in school life without having to give up too much of their time. It’s designed to appeal to parents, and caters directly to their needs.
“Schools are increasingly recognising the value of a strong parent teacher association in terms of the overall impact on the school’s desirability and even pupil attainment. Current tools provided by schools are largely inadequate, and many PTAs have turned to well known social media platforms, raising concerns over e-safety. PTAsocial not only connects parents and teachers while protecting their privacy, but also handles the organisational aspect of fundraising activities, saving time and increasing participation.”
