Is your parental communication one-way?

As teachers and school leaders, we all know that engaging parents makes a huge difference. When parents feel connected to what’s happening in school, they’re more confident, more supportive, and far more likely to carry learning on at home.

But… communication isn’t always easy.

• Letters at the bottom of bags (never to be seen again)
• Text messages that don’t give the full picture
• Newsletters that get skimmed (if we’re lucky!)

The problem with all these methods? They’re one-way communication. The school talks, parents listen. But real engagement comes from conversation — and that means listening too.

Two-way communication builds active, positive parental engagement

That’s why we created Evisense Explorer – for two-way communication that really connects! Explorer is the perfect starting point for schools who want to strengthen home–school links without adding more workload. It gives you a simple, secure platform to keep parents in the loop about what’s happening — from class blogs and reading diaries to newsletters, reminders, and little updates about their child’s learning.

Giving parents a voice
The difference with Explorer is that it’s not just another “broadcast system”. Parents can comment, respond and even create their own posts. This makes communication truly two-way.

Because let’s be honest — communication isn’t just about sharing information, it’s also about listening. Parents know their children better than anyone. When they can share insights, ask questions or celebrate those little wins from home, schools get a fuller picture of the child. That makes support more consistent, relationships more positive, and parents feel like genuine partners in the process.

And don’t worry — communication is always private. Parents of other pupils can’t see what’s being shared, so the conversation stays focused on their child.

What makes Explorer different?
Unlike sending out endless paper notes, Explorer creates an ongoing dialogue. Instead of one-way communication (“here’s a letter, hope you got it”), it builds a real partnership. Parents don’t just hear from school when something’s wrong or at parents’ evening — they get a steady flow of positives, updates, and ways to support learning at home.

And because Explorer is built on the same platform as our premium version of Evisense, it’s easy to get started and even easier to upgrade later if you want to share photos, videos, or audio clips. Explorer gives you the core tools to build trust and communication straight away.

What can you use it for?
Schools are already using Explorer to:

• Share home–school diaries and reading diaries
• Keep parents updated with newsletters and notices
• Post class blogs about what’s been happening in school
• Send reminders about trips, events and celebrations
• Share progress updates straight from Connecting Steps

It’s also secure, GDPR-compliant and UK-based — so you don’t have to worry about data protection headaches.

Start simple, grow later
With Explorer you can capture and share text-based observations too, and if you’re using Connecting Steps, you can link evidence directly to the skills you’re assessing. If you’d like to share those wonderful photos and videos of pupils in action, upgrading to Premium is quick and flexible — you don’t have to upgrade all pupils, just the ones you need.

Included free with Connecting Steps
If your school already uses Connecting Steps, good news: Explorer is included free for every pupil you’re licensed for.

Not using Connecting Steps? No problem — you can still get Explorer for just £1 per pupil, making it one of the most affordable ways to strengthen parental communication.

Engaging parents positively with two-way communication
Evisense Explorer is all about building bridges between school and home. It makes it easier to celebrate achievements, keep parents informed, and create positive relationships. And crucially, it ensures that parents don’t just hear from school — they’re heard too.

Are you a B Squared customer ready to give Evisense Explorer a try? 👉 Take a look at our ‘how to’ guide.

If you are not a B Squared customer, use this link 👉 Find out more about Evisense Explorer