Release notes and fixes

This update includes releases for the School Insights dashboard, improvements to PEMS and more. ▶Learn more

June 25 2026

Navigation quick reference guide: Where has it moved?

Want to know more about the changes to our navigation menu? We have all the details.

Feature icons

Anything that was previously accessed from the feature icons across the top of the screen has now moved into the left menu.

Depending on the view being used, these areas will appear in different places.

School view

 

MAT view

For most school users, these options will appear near the top of the left menu under Communications. For users with MAT view, such as Trust central teams, these options will appear further down the left menu under Legacy functions. 

Some features, such as Parent Meetings and Payments, now have their own section in the left menu. Some areas that were previously accessed through the top right system settings menu have also moved into their own section, including Absence Reporting, Registers and Reports.

System settings

Previously, settings were accessed from the school settings option in the top right menu. 

This opened a separate settings page. 

The settings page included a scrollable menu on the left side. 

System Settings can now be found at the bottom of the left menu. 

System Settings tab

 

Submenu

 

Back arrow

Selecting System Settings opens a submenu. From here, settings can be accessed for each area of the product. To close the submenu and return to the main menu, select the left pointing arrow at the top.

See the table below for a quick reference guide on where specific features are now located.

June 25 2026

Coming soon: Branding update and how to change your portal colours

As part of the navigation improvements, we are simplifying the branding options available within the portal. This change will help improve accessibility and create a more consistent experience across the platform. As part of this, the existing portal branding options will be reduced, and the portal banner image option will be removed.

At launch, the portal will use the default blue and orange colours shown in the screenshots below. Schools will be able to adjust these later by choosing from approved primary and secondary colour combinations.

These changes only affect the staff-facing portal. The parent app experience will not change, and the school app will continue to show the school’s chosen branded colours.

Bespoke colour options are still available. If you wish to use bespoke branded colours, click the dropdown box titled “Advanced colour options.”

This brings up information about how to add your hex codes and meet accessibility requirements.

There is even a handy button which will help you select appropriate colours if your current choices do not meet accessibility requirements. 

These changes help ensure the portal remains clear, accessible and consistent for all users, while helping to standardise the platform and simplify ongoing development, maintenance and support. 

This is a visual change only and will not affect how any features or functionality work. 

June 25 2026

New help and product update shortcuts

As part of the navigation update, you will notice a few new icons within the portal designed to make it easier to access help, discover available features and understand what is included in your Reach More Parents package. 

Help button

You'll now find a dedicated Help button within the portal. 

Selecting this button gives you quick access to support resources by opening our Knowledge Base in a new tab. This allows you to search articles and videos, helping you find answers quickly. 

This change makes support more visible and easier to access, helping staff get the assistance they need exactly when they need it. 

Product News page

A new Products News button has been added to the navigation. 

This provides a central place to view any updates to the product, such as new feature releases, bug fixes and tips and tricks to get the most from the platform. Rather than just relying on email updates, the latest product information can now be accessed from a single, consistent location. 

The aim is to make it easier for users to see updates and information, helping them to get the best from the platform. 

Gem icons

If you see a gem icon alongside a feature, this means the functionality is available within Reach More Parents, but it is not currently included in your organisation's subscription. 

The feature is visible so that users can see the wider capabilities available within the platform and become aware of additional tools that may benefit their school or trust. Gem icons are only visible to staff members.  

To gain access to a feature marked with a gem icon, your organisation would need to upgrade its Reach More Parents subscription. 

If you would like to find out more about a feature displaying a gem icon, please contact the Reach More Parents team.

Disabled icons

If a feature appears with a disabled icon, this means the feature is included within your organisation's package, but your user role does not currently have permission to access it. 

This is different from a gem icon. The functionality is already available to your organisation, but access has been restricted through role permissions. Only staff members can see disabled icons.  

If you believe you need access to a feature that is displayed as disabled, please contact your school's System Administrator. They can review and update your permissions if appropriate. 

Why are these icons being introduced? 

These icons are designed to provide greater transparency and reduce confusion about feature availability. 

They help you quickly understand: 

• Which features are included in your organisation's package 

• Which features are available as part of an upgrade 

• Which features are restricted by role permissions 

By making this information visible within the portal, users can more easily discover functionality, understand access restrictions and find the right route to request additional access or services. 

April 21 2026

This release introduces a new and improved approach to Groups in ReachMoreParents,  giving schools greater flexibility when managing groups, makes membership easier to maintain, and reduces the administration required to keep groups accurate throughout the academic year. ▶Learn more

This update includes improvements to PEMS and Message Reminders. ▶Learn more

This update includes fixes for PEMS, meal booking, messages and more. ▶Learn more

This release included new recurring calendar events and other improvements across Administration, Meal Manager, PEMS and Access Management. ▶Learn more

This update includes a number of general bug fixes and performance improvements, along with several key feature updates designed to reduce manual setup and improve data accuracy across your platform.  ▶Learn more

This release makes enrolment simpler, reduces errors, and gives school staff the right support at the right time. ▶Learn more

This update included significant security and functionality improvements, including introducing the option for 2FA. ▶Learn more

This update contains the development of the new Parent Evening Management System (PEMS), along with an important update to our Arbor absence writeback process. ▶Learn more

This release delivered important development for our payment integration project. ▶Learn more