More than eight in 10 (82%) of parents who use school WhatsApp groups think they would be lost without them, according to research. The survey found 65% admit they would forget important school events, including non-uniform days, sports days and school inset days, if it wasn't for the group.
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.
Parents' top back-to-school challenges
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 persuading them to pose for the traditional back-to-school photo (both 10%).
For 34% of parents, their alarm clock is the most helpful thing for getting them ready for school. Meanwhile, one in 10 chose the washing machine, and 9% even cited the family.
One in five parents leave back-to-school preparations until the last minute, with haircuts, buying school shoes and washing uniforms tasks often left to the eleventh hour. The research, carried out via OnePoll, also found on average, it takes families two weeks to fully settle back into the rhythm of term time.
Beko launches Back to School 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.
“If you’re not stressing 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.”
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.
“For parents, that means dependable performance when they need it most, fewer everyday disruptions and greater confidence that their appliance will continue to make life easier for years to come.”
Helpline hours and expert tips
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 making the back-to-school transition less chaotic include running a stealth routine reboot a week before term starts, bringing bedtime and wake-up alarms forward by 15 minutes each day. She also recommends putting all drop-off, pick-up and after-school club logistics onto one shared calendar at the start of term.
Other tips include retiring as the morning short-order cook by putting cereal, snacks and breakfast basics into child-friendly containers on reachable shelves, enforcing a 'soft landing' for week one by avoiding evening chore charts or strict homework routines, and ditching uniform perfectionism by using a quick-wash setting on the washing machine for last-minute PE kit rescues.
