brightwheel

Avantages

Secure communications is the only bright spor

Inconvénients

Hard to implement. Hard to understand. NO POSSIBLE WAY to contact live customer service regardless of the situation or emergency.

Avantages

Every day I get pictures of my pre-schooler in Brightwheel. It's also excellent as a means of communicating with his school.

Inconvénients

The check-in/check-out can be a bit wonky if you don't have great reception.

Avantages

easy of making reports, and communication between home and program

Inconvénients

The new adminstration feature. The prior feature allowed me to delete documents from a family list if it was not applicable or if they were unable to complete online but instead in person. The families are having difficutly moving throught the enrollment process, the way it is set up now. I would love for Bright Wheel to give providers some power to delete and or go back to the previous feature of adminsitaion that was based on forms

Another con is the ablity to make reports based on enrollment start and end dates, this would better assist my program in pulling reports based on dates, for our funders. I currently have to pull everyone from active and inactive to a spread sheet only to delete what I do not need based on enrollment and end dates. This is time consuming for me

Avantages

Brightwheel's setup was incredibly easy. Our staff picked it up right away, and we love that parents can easily keep up with what their kids are doing and learning each day. Check-in is a breeze and we love being alerted on the front end if a child is sick.

Inconvénients

We do wish it had an api or at least a low code connection to Zapier. We use Salesforce as our primary data source of truth and don't love having to do by hand imports and exports to keep both updated.

We also aren't using Brightwheel curriculum. If there was an easier way to import what we are using, that would be amazing.

Alternatives envisagées 

Pourquoi choisir brightwheel 

Logiciel antérieur 

Pourquoi passer à brightwheel

Avantages

It allows me to keep everything in one place!

Inconvénients

Most everything on my wish list has been or is in the process of being added as a feature.

Avantages

Brightwheel is a very parent-oriented app. It is extremely user friendly. It has extensive capabilities when it comes to daily reports and updates for the child. It allows parents easy access to staff and to have a in real time picture of the child's day. From a teacher standpoint it is easy and intuitive to use. On the tuition side of things, parents have access to all of their tuition payment records and can schedule payments independently of the school. Posting payments is simple for the administration.

Inconvénients

I would be very helpful if the data could be used for other purposes and easily adapted to such things a roll call list, classroom rosters. emergency lists etc. While you can export the data to excel spread sheets it would be very helpful if they provided pre-configured options for these necessary reports.

Avantages

I really like that you can save lesson plans from one year to the next. It makes it easier to see where the kids should typically be at at certain times of the year. The communication with the parents is really great too. It's easy to take pictures and attach them to lesson plans and send them to the parents. Messaging can be sent either from the lesson plan, from a photo or video, or from the messaging section, which is nice. And you can send to entire classrooms for announcements like our recent Halloween party.

Inconvénients

The assessment portion is difficult. It doesn't connect to the lesson plans, so when you take a picture of a lesson plan that has developmental goals/milestones on it, it doesn't automatically upload that photo and lesson plan to that kids' portfolio. And you have to input everything separately. Each kid, each photo, each goal, each section, each description (because again, it doesn't pull from the lesson plan descriptions, even when the photo is from a lesson plan that's in Brightwheel), it's just really time consuming. It's not clear how you make a template, or if that would even be helpful. And there aren't any example templates or template tutorials so you can see what that would look like. You can't send them to the parents either. Which kind of defeats the purpose in my opinion.

Avantages

I like that brightwheel does a great job of allowing the staff at my child's preschool to keep me as a parent updated on what is going on throughout the day in many different aspects.

Inconvénients

While not a huge problem, I would like the chat functionality within the App to send push notifications when my wife responds to messages as well. As it is, I will receive a notification if someone from my child's preschool sends a message, but I will not get a notification that my wife sent one as well in response. This would be helpful so that I would know without having to open the App and navigate to find the exact conversation, just to realize that a question has been answered or situation handled.

Avantages

I like every feature. From attendance, payment options, documents, menus, curriculum options. The ease of use and set up. Customer service was so helpful when getting started, they have great step by step tutorials if you need, or can talk to someone live, and they were so informative and friendly.

Inconvénients

Only thing I can say bad is that I wish I would have had this years ago.

Avantages

I love the ease of using the app and all the detail that I am able to share with the users. Brightwheel provides a lot of specific options so that daily logs are concise and organized.

Inconvénients

I wish that there were specific categories that I could select when writing a note. (Just because I like things to have a specific label).

Avantages

I love that we are able to communicate with parents on a daily basis. It's so helpful to have a platform so dedicated to helped childcare workers in their daily work life.

Inconvénients

I can't say there is something I don't like about brightwheel.

Avantages

The ease of parent, communication and the integration with payroll

Inconvénients

Some things that are easily done on the computer are not as easily done on the app and most of the time I’m on my phone

Avantages

The process of adding a child is easy and quick. The daily reports allows the teachers to add a lot of information so the parents know what day their child has had. It creates trust.

Inconvénients

I do not have any cons at the moment. :)

Avantages

Brightwheel is a comprehensive and easy-to-use tool that allows users to manage all school-related tasks quickly and easily. With features like real-time communication, student progress tracking, and payment management, this platform simplifies the day-to-day life of teachers and administrators.

Inconvénients

There is nothing not to like about this excellent platform. Everything it offers is very useful and makes it easy to use for people of all ages and skill levels. Plus, thanks to its instant communication features, parents can stay up to date with their children's news and activities at all times.

Avantages

It is a great hub for all communication from your child's teacher. The teacher can send reminders, updates, and even photos from the day. You can easily view and download the photos onto your own device as well!

Inconvénients

Digitally signing your child in and out works well, however, you are given a four digit code that you have to remember after scanning the QR code. This code doesn't change, however, for a parent who doesn't do the primary drop offs and pickups, I found myself struggling to remember the code at times.

Avantages

Brightwheel has opened the door of communication with my parents without taking the time away from the kids when I need to inform the parent of something that is happening. One click and I can immediately text a parent or send a picture to show a parent what is happening.

Inconvénients

I would really like a document hub that the parents can access so I didn't have to send the same document over and over.

Avantages

Gives a single source to help manage students/kids and inform parents as well as managing access to the facilities.

Inconvénients

Occasionally the app hangs and can be a little frustrating, but it's not a deal breaker or a common thing.

Avantages

Checking in and out our child at daycare

Inconvénients

From time to time the system logs you out and it takes a while to log in again, when checking your child in or out

Avantages

What I like the most is streamlining communication between the management team and childcare parents. Features like attendance tracking, parent engagement tools, and learning assessments empower educators to focus more on teaching and less on administrative tasks, making it easy for teachers and parents to stay connected. Bright Wheel is a beautiful tool for informing parents and improving the classroom experience. Embrace the opportunity to simplify your workload and strengthen relationships with families today!

Inconvénients

Once you make a mistake in Brightwheel, you can't go back and edit the entire group. This can be frustrating if you want to correct something for everyone at once.

Avantages

Brightwheel is absolutely amazing for those parents who like to keep things in order and or staying connected with my childcare provider

Inconvénients

I do not believe I have any cons about brightwheel. Nothing notable

Avantages

Keeping parents informed on students activities and progress throughout the day.

Inconvénients

The least thing is the payment plans that are available.

Avantages

The communication with the parents!! I love that they can see pictures of their child throughout the day. It is user friendly and easy for parents as well.

Inconvénients

I can' think of anything that I don't care for. I don't like that I cant delete a child from my Brightwheel all the way. I usually put them as inactive.

Avantages

I love that we can communicate with families in real time.

Inconvénients

Nothing that I can think of so far. We love this program.

Avantages

I like that users can manage their accounts and balances.

Inconvénients

There is no way to contact my daughter's after-school program through the platform.

Avantages

Its nice to have communication w the staff during day so you can get updates on your kid.

Inconvénients

It would be nice if it was integrated with invoices so you could have all in one spot.

Avantages

Children's Attendance Record
Staff Time Cards
Parent Communication
Online Payment Option

Inconvénients

Nothing that I can think of, I love everything about Brightwheel!

Avantages

Its ability to bill parents for credit card, debit card or ACH fees directly

Inconvénients

The cost of the software. The more parents the more it cost

Avantages

I like how easy to use Brightwheel is and how you can message between parents.

Inconvénients

I don't use the learning or paperwork tool so I would say that would be what I least like since it is not utilized.

Avantages

I like the option to like photos and see real time updates with ease. Especially the part of seeing notes related to their meals.

Inconvénients

There isn’t anything in particular that I don’t like about this app as yet. I’ve been on it since July 2024, and so far it’s meeting my expectations.

Avantages

It was easy to set up and use! The parents and staff in our center also found it easy to use and enjoyed sharing information in this way!

Inconvénients

The cost was a little higher than similar products.

Avantages

I like the ability for parents to be able to check their child in and out as a backup to our teachers doing it in the classroom.

Inconvénients

It doesn't print attendance sheets in the event you have an internet issue.

Avantages

messages, photos, check in/out, activities, videos, etc...

Inconvénients

food: it would be nice if we can erase/delete all the previous meal items

Avantages

i love the effectiveness on payments, the options for parents to pay their bills either with card or through ach payments and that they receive their invoices automatically.

Inconvénients

that we have to set it up ourselves, but we had guidance so it wasn't bad.

Avantages

Having the children's and staff information at our fingertips!

Inconvénients

Not being able to use the same email for staff that have signed up through other centers. It's inconvenient!
Not being able to change admin messages to alerts.

Avantages

Ease of use, User Friendly, Cost effective

Inconvénients

Not as intuitive as we like it to be. We like it to group students by family and to make it easier to find students and Parents together and not have look for them separately

Avantages

Love that I can share moments and learning with families.

Inconvénients

I don't like that They update it at certain times mid-year which makes it very difficult for care providers to try and learn. Although I'm grateful for the updates. Hope there is an option to print portfolio now! It's also a bit difficult to be able to know which features are used from tablet, phone or desktop that can be kind of cumbersome

Avantages

I'm able to see notes, pictures, and videos from my son's daycare. I like that I receive notifications when any updates are posted.

Inconvénients

Sometimes, the Brightwheel app can time out when I'm checking in my son.

Avantages

Ease of use, functionality, ability to view children's day at a glance (when they eat, have diaper changes, go to naps, and incidents that happen), ability to send and receive pictures/documents with daycare staff, ability to send messages to administrators or teachers

Inconvénients

There is a small service fee for paying invoices to daycare using brightwheel. Noone likes paying fees, but I think paying the small fee is worth it to be able to quickly and easily pay invoices from daycare from the comfort of your home

Avantages

parents being able to check in and check out

Inconvénients

I wish that when you post pictures to the feed, they posted in a cluster(ex. 1 of 10) instead of posting each picture separately.

Avantages

able to keep parents informed on what their children are doing

Inconvénients

I haven't found anything yet that I don't like

Avantages

Ease of use and appealing mobile layout. Easy for my daycare provider to communicate with me throughout the day with updates on my child and send photos. Easy to pay online, eliminating need to use checks.

Inconvénients

No cons so far. Easy to access online and easy to use as a mobile application as well.

Avantages

I like that is takes out payments automatically without me having to manually do it each time a payment is due. I like how can view messages from the teachers & see what my daughter is doing at school through out the day.

Inconvénients

I honestly do not dislike anything about the app. I appreciate it!

Avantages

I love how easy it is for the parents and teachers to use. Everything is all in one place. I feel that parents read notifications so much more now-instead of notes in a cubby.

Inconvénients

Some parents were put off by the weekly fees to pay through the system.

Avantages

billings and communication between employees, families and payroll

Inconvénients

credit card payments fail after payment was credited

Avantages

It is a great way to communicate with our families

Inconvénients

I don't have any. Once we got familier with brightwheel is very user friendly

Avantages

Que todo esta en una sola aplicacion, me ayuda a mantenerme comunicada con los padres de una forma facil y rapida, ahorro tiempo.

Inconvénients

Que las instruciones y explicaciones te dieran la oportunidad de escojer el idioma para tu navegar en el; aunque tienes un monitor por los primeros tiempos; Luego lo necesitas para trabajar hasta que sepas todo el sistema.

Avantages

Very user friendly and they keep giving updates to make it better. I'm excited to see the direction they go as they continue to grow.

Inconvénients

Nothing yet. They respond well to requests.

Avantages

This is a great product for communicating between daycare and parents.

Inconvénients

When my child's daycare went from 2 locations to one location, my child's father was unable to be incorporated and no longer receives information on our son from the daycare and cannot check him in or out.

Avantages

Staff Time tracking and invoices are the best.

Inconvénients

Not being able to delete menu items off the list.

Alternatives envisagées 

Pourquoi passer à brightwheel

Avantages

Very user friendly, messaging app was quick, photos came through wonderfully. Payment system simple. Nice reporting system for taxes end of the year

Inconvénients

I was very satisfied with Brightwheel and found it be a great daycare communication tool