Spike’s Messaging System

Introduction

Spike’s messaging system provides a simple and convenient way for you to keep your parents up to date with what is happening at your Service.

You can create an activity to share photos and information to parents about their child’s day.
Make an attendance note for parents to view when signing their child in / out.
Direct message a parent which can also be sent via SMS.
Send newsletters and announcements keeping parents up to date with what is happening at your service.
Alert your parents via SMS with urgent / important information concerning your service.
Parents can make an enquiry via the parent app.

Parents can view their messages through our Parent Childcare App.

Installation

Staff and administrators can access messaging via our electronic attendance system on any device, and administrators can also access messaging via the Spike Viewer.

To install this on your device click here.

Messaging from your device

To send messages from your iPad/tablet

Open the electronic attendance system
If required enter your suffix (these are the letters after the @sign in your login)
Enter your PIN - if you do not know your PIN open your person in Spike, your PIN will display in the details tab.
Click on the envelope icon top right hand corner (or you can click the 3 dots → Messages)

If you are an administrator you will be able to view all messages. You can edit, delete or publish messages.

If you are a staff member (with no administration rights) you will only see the option to create 2 types of messages, notes and activities. You will be able to view all messages created by all staff.

To create a message click on the blue round + button.

Messaging from the Spike Viewer

To send messages from the Spike Viewer

Go to System
Spike messaging system (if you do not have this option you will need to update your Spike Viewer)
If required enter your suffix (these are the letters after the @sign in your login)
Enter your PIN - if you do not know your PIN open your person in Spike, your PIN will display in the details tab.

Spike will remember these details for future use.

As an administrator you will be able to view all messages. You can edit, delete or publish messages.

To create a message click on the blue round + button.

Types of messages

Our messaging system gives you the ability to send multiple types of messages. Administrators can send all types of messages.

Staff can only send activities and direct messages.

Activity

An activity is a message about the child/rens activities throughout the day.

An activity can involved a group of children or just one child. Photos can be added to this type of message.

Select the date the activity occurred
Add the title (optional)
Describe the activity
Select the child / children involved. Spike will only display children that had a booking on the selected date. Highlight the child/rens names → select
Select photo (photos can be multi-selected)→ upload
Indicate whether the message is to published now (default) or deferred
Select publish / save

Tip	Activities can be printed via the print icon at the top right of the screen

Note

A note is an attendance note about a particular child. A note will display on the electronic attendance system on the current date and permanently on the parent app.

Notes will generally be entered via your iPad/tablet by clicking on the add note button under the child’s name.

Notes can also be entered via the Spike viewer

Enter the description eg please sign accident form
Select the child. Spike will only display children that have a booking on the selected date.
Publish

Note	parents can add their own notes to staff via the electronic attendance system

Direct message

A direct message is a message to an individual. Direct messages can be sent to the parent app and by SMS (if no photos or documents are attached)

Select the person - highlight the persons name → select
Enter your message
Select send SMS if required
Add photo → upload
Add PDF document → upload
publish

Tip	If you cannot select 'send sms' check that the person has a mobile phone number is Spike

You can send your service’s newsletter to account holders via the parent app.

Add the title (optional)
Add description
Add PDF document → upload
Indicate whether the message is to published now (default) or deferred
Select publish / save

Announcement

An annoucement is a message that can be sent to a specific group or the whole service (all active account holders) eg. A case of head lice has been reported. Please check your child’s hair

Add the title (optional)
Describe the announcement
Add PDF document
Select the group
Indicate whether the message is to published now (default) or deferred
Select publish / save

Alert

An alert is an important message that can be sent to a specific group or the whole service eg. A case of COVID has been reported in the Baby Room.

Select the date range - the date range is used to target account holders of children who had a booking within that timeframe.
Describe the alert
Select send SMS if required
Select the group
Select publish

Enquiry

Parents can contact your service directly from the app by clicking on the 'contact service' button in the messaging screen. This will open up an enquiry page. Parents can add photo’s and PDF’s to their enquiry.

SMS messaging

Spike has the ability to send SMS messages for direct messaging and alerts.

To enable this feature please contact the helpdesk to arrange purchase of SMS messages. SMS messages are 8 cents per message. You will be able to purchase SMS messages in blocks of $40. These will be applied to your service and invoiced.

When creating an SMS message Spike will display how many SMS messages per person will be used.

Tip	Keep SMS messages brief to avoid using large quantities of credit

Administrator mode

If you are an administrator in the Spike Viewer eg you have a spike login, you will be able to see ALL messages sent and received. By selecting Administrator mode you can then view and publish any messages that have not yet been published.

Publishing

Publishing is the process of sending your message/s.

Publishing gives you the option to publish now or delay publishing.

To delay publishing simply deselect publish and select save. Delaying publishing gives an administator the opportunity to proof read the message before it is published (sent).

Administrators can also edit and delete messages by using the 3 dots on the right hand side.

Deleted messages are removed from the messaging system, the parent app and all links are removed from the email notification.

Notifications

Parents will be notified by email when they receive a message. By default notifications will be sent by email for all messages except attendance notes.

You can update a parents notification preferences via Spike.

Go to Select → Person → Select the person
Whilst in the details tab right click, edit
Go to the third page by selecting next, next.
Untick the notification to turn it off

Tip	Unticking the notification does not stop the message from being sent, it only stops the parent being notified