Administration

Notification Templates & Settings

Configure email and SMS notification templates, enable/disable notification types, and manage reminder schedules

Notification Management Overview

The Notification Management system allows you to customise email and SMS templates, configure which notifications are sent, and set up reminder schedules. Access via Admin > Notifications (Head Office only).

Notification Types

The system supports several notification types:

TypeWhen Sent
Submission InviteWhen a submission is sent to a parent for completion
ReminderBefore the submission deadline (configurable frequency)
OverdueWhen the deadline has passed without completion
ApprovedWhen a submission is approved
RejectedWhen a submission requires corrections
Status UpdateGeneral status change notifications
ConfirmationAfter parent successfully submits
Funding Code ExpiryWarning about upcoming 30-hour code expiration

Editing Templates

  1. Go to Admin > Notifications
  2. Click on a template to edit
  3. Modify the following:
    • Name - Display name for the template
    • Description - Internal notes about the template's purpose
    • Email Subject - Subject line for email notifications
    • Email Body - HTML content of the email
    • SMS Body - Short text message content (160 character limit)
  4. Toggle Email Enabled and SMS Enabled to control delivery methods
  5. Click 'Save'

Available Placeholders

Templates support dynamic placeholders that are replaced with actual data:

  • {{ParentName}} - Parent's full name
  • {{ChildName}} - Child's full name
  • {{NurseryName}} - Nursery name
  • {{SubmissionLink}} - Direct link to complete the submission
  • {{Deadline}} - Submission deadline date
  • {{ReferenceNumber}} - Submission reference number
  • {{FundingPeriod}} - e.g., 'Spring 2025'

Preview Templates

  1. While editing a template, click 'Preview'
  2. View sample output with placeholder values replaced
  3. Check formatting and links before saving

Reset to Defaults

To restore a template to its default content:

  1. Click on the template to edit
  2. Click 'Reset to Default'
  3. Confirm the reset

This removes all customisations and restores the system default template.

Notification Settings

Configure when and how notifications are sent:

Reminder Configuration

  • Reminder Days Before - How many days before deadline to start reminders
  • Reminder Frequency (Days) - How often to send follow-up reminders
  • Expiry Reminder Days - Days before 30-hour code expiry to warn parents

Enable/Disable Settings

For each notification type, you can:

  • Enable/disable the entire notification
  • Enable/disable email delivery
  • Enable/disable SMS delivery

Tip: Keep email templates informative but concise. SMS messages are limited to 160 characters so focus on the essential call-to-action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why aren't my template changes showing in sent emails?
Ensure you clicked 'Save' after editing. Also verify the template is marked as 'Active'. Changes only affect new notifications, not those already queued.
Can I use HTML in email templates?
Yes, email templates support full HTML formatting. SMS templates are plain text only due to carrier limitations.
How do I test a notification template?
Use the Preview function to see how the template will appear with sample data. For full testing, create a test submission and trigger the notification.
Last updated: January 25, 2026
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