More than eight in 10 parents who use school WhatsApp groups say they would be lost without them, describing the chats as an 'essential tool', according to research.
The survey found 82% of those who use the groups believe they would be lost without them, while 65% admit they would forget important school events if it wasn't for the group. These include non-uniform days, sports days and even school inset days.
Back-to-school challenges
One in five parents (20%) said the groups make the September return to school easier to manage. The poll of 1,000 parents of six to 11-year-olds, by home appliance brand Beko, revealed 74% consider the back-to-school period the most challenging time of the year.
Re-establishing bedtime and morning routines tops the list of back-to-school 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 convincing them to pose for the classic back-to-school snapshot (both 10%).
Last-minute preparations
For 34% of parents, their alarm clock is the most useful tool for getting their children ready for school. Meanwhile, one in 10 opted for the washing machine, and 9% even credited the family itself.
But one in five parents leave back-to-school preparations until the last minute, with haircuts, buying school shoes and washing uniforms among the tasks most commonly left to the eleventh hour. The research, conducted via OnePoll, also revealed that on average, it takes families two weeks to fully settle back into the routine of term time.
Expert advice and helpline
Former teacher and mum of two Lou Beckett, who has partnered with Beko to launch the Beko Back to School Helpline, hosted on WhatsApp, said: "As a parent, I know just how hectic 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. 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 huge."
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
Beckett also shared tips for making the back-to-school transition less chaotic, including running a stealth routine reboot by bringing bedtime and wake-up alarms forward by 15 minutes each day a week before term starts. She suggests putting all drop-off, pick-up and after-school club logistics on one shared calendar, and retiring as the morning short-order cook by putting cereal and snacks in child-friendly containers on reachable shelves.
She also advises enforcing a 'soft landing' for week one, treating it like recovery from severe jetlag, and ditching uniform perfectionism, noting that a trusty washing machine with a quick-wash setting can handle last-minute rescue missions.
