More than eight in ten parents (82%) who use school WhatsApp groups say they would be at a loss without them, with 65% confessing they would forget crucial school events such as non-uniform days, sports days and teacher training days if not for the group. One in five parents (20%) said the groups also make the September return to school easier to handle.
Back-to-school is the toughest time of year
The poll of 1,000 parents of six to 11-year-olds, conducted by home appliance brand Beko, revealed that 74% consider the back-to-school period the most challenging time of the year. Re-establishing bedtime and morning routines tops the list of challenges for 41% of parents, followed by getting children out of bed and ready in time for the school bell (38%).
Other common pressures include prepping packed lunches (25%), coaxing children into the car and persuading them to pose for the traditional back-to-school photo (both 10%). For 34% of parents, their alarm clock proves the most useful tool for getting prepared for school, while one in ten selected the washing machine, and 9% mentioned the family.
Last-minute preparations and settling in
One in five parents delay back-to-school preparations until the final moment, with haircuts, purchasing school shoes and washing uniforms frequently left until the eleventh hour. The research, conducted via OnePoll, also revealed that on average, it takes families two weeks to completely settle back into the rhythm of term time.
Former teacher and mum of two Lou Beckett, who has teamed up with Beko to launch the Beko Back to School Helpline, hosted on WhatsApp, said: "As a parent, I know just how chaotic the back-to-school period can be. It rarely looks like the picture-perfect planner stuck on the fridge. In reality, it's a missing PE kit or a stained shirt and by 8am the only thing still running smoothly is the washing machine."
She added: "That's why Beko has created a Back to School Helpline on WhatsApp - so parents have somewhere to turn when those last-minute worries feel overwhelming. If you're not fretting about uniforms drying in time or how to keep packed lunches fresh for the week ahead, it's much easier to focus on what really matters – helping your kids feel confident and ready to walk through the school gates."
Advice from the helpline and Beko
Salah Sun, head of product management at Beko, said: "September has a way of arriving faster than anyone's ready for. One minute it's sandcastles, the next it's a scramble to get school uniforms and PE kits washed. When family life is demanding, having appliances you can rely on means one less thing to worry about. We stress-test our appliances for proven durability, so they can keep up with the demands of busy family life – from last-minute uniform washes and keeping lunchbox favourites fresh to the daily after dinner clean-up."
From 6pm-9pm on Tuesday 1st September, parents can receive practical advice from Lou and the experts at Beko on the Back to School Helpline for when those last-minute worries begin to feel overwhelming.
Lou Beckett's tips for a smoother transition
Lou Beckett's tips for making the back-to-school transition less chaotic include running a stealth routine reboot: a week before term starts, bring bedtime and wake-up alarms forward by 15 minutes each day. She also suggests putting logistics on one shared calendar, so every drop-off, pick-up and after-school club is on a single calendar at the start of term.
Other tips include retiring as the morning short-order cook by putting cereal and snacks into child-friendly containers on reachable shelves, enforcing a 'soft landing' for week one by treating it like recovery from severe jetlag, and ditching uniform perfectionism – noting that teachers just want children to be comfortable, clean and ready to learn, and that a washing machine with a quick-wash setting can handle last-minute PE kit rescues.
