--- title: Alerting parents to an Unexplained Absence (read time 5 minutes) description: When a student is marked with an unexplained absence code on a particular day, principals, secretary users, and teachers with the necessary permissions can notify the student’s parent or guardian to a --- [Skip to content](https://support.vsware.ie/en/sms-unexplained-absent-students#main-content) English Show submenu for translations ![VS-Logo-1.jpg\]](https://support.vsware.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/VS-Logo-1.jpg?height=40&name=VS-Logo-1.jpg) - [Tickets](https://support.vsware.ie/tickets-view) - [Sign out](https://support.vsware.ie/_hcms/mem/logout) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Tickets](https://support.vsware.ie/tickets-view) - [Sign out](https://support.vsware.ie/_hcms/mem/logout) - English Show submenu for translations - Go to vsware.ie Go to vsware.ie Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Center](https://support.vsware.ie/en?hsLang=en) 2. [Attendance](https://support.vsware.ie/en/attendance?hsLang=en) 3. [Attendance Reports](https://support.vsware.ie/en/attendance?hsLang=en#attendance-reports) # Alerting parents to an Unexplained Absence (read time 5 minutes) > When a student is marked with an unexplained absence code on a particular day, principals, secretary users, and teachers with the necessary permissions can notify the student’s parent or guardian to alert them that their child is absent from school. This is based on the AM/PM bell times.  > > There are two ways to communicate this: SMS and push notification to the VSware mobile app on the parent’s phone. All schools can send SMS messages, while schools with the Communications Package can also send push notifications. Additionally, a new feature allows admins to schedule or automate the unexplained absence push notifications, so you no longer need to manually carry out this task each day. *Last updated 27/11/2025* ### Unexplained Absence message via SMS All schools have the ability to send an SMS to a parent regarding an unexplained absence. You can send the SMS two ways:  1\. Via the AM/PM attendance widget on the dashboard (Click the SMS button) 2\. Via groups tap. You should have a group called unexplained absences and you can click the SMS/phone button to send a text from this screen.  ### Unexplained Absence message via Push Notification to the VSware mobile App (manual) Schools with the Communications Package have the ability to send push notifications to the phones of parents and guardians who have the VSware App installed on their phone. This option is a great way to save costs on SMS.  Please note however, that with all unexplained absence push notifications, the system will send a back-up SMS message to the parent within 30 minutes, if they have not opened the push notification in that time. This is in place to ensure student safety.    Access the Unexplained Absences dashboard via the 'Administration Alerts' dashboard widget Or via 'Admin' \> 'Notifications' \> 'Today's Unexplained Absences'.  ![](https://support.vsware.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Nov-26-2025-03-36-06-8587-PM.png?width=688&height=187&name=image-png-Nov-26-2025-03-36-06-8587-PM.png)   To manually send the push notification, select the 'Send AM Notification' or Send PM Notification' and select the relevant students.  ![](https://support.vsware.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Nov-27-2025-10-58-18-1387-AM.png?width=688&height=404&name=image-png-Nov-27-2025-10-58-18-1387-AM.png)   You will then be given the option to select a template (more on templates below) that will be used if a backup SMS is needed.  Click 'Notify Recipients' and the push notification will be sent. The 'View Notification History' button allows you to keep track of sent notifications and backup SMS. ![](https://support.vsware.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Nov-27-2025-11-03-19-8763-AM.png?width=688&height=294&name=image-png-Nov-27-2025-11-03-19-8763-AM.png)     ### Unexplained Absence message via Push Notification to the VSware mobile App (manual)   To automate or schedule the push notifications to send at a specific time:   Select the Automate Notifications button.  ![](https://support.vsware.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Nov-26-2025-03-42-12-5304-PM.png?width=602&height=118&name=image-png-Nov-26-2025-03-42-12-5304-PM.png) Enable notifications for the one or both bell times and fill in the exact time you want the push notification to be sent at. Be sure to set it a minimum of 15 minutes after the bell time, to alllow time for teachers to take the roll. ![](https://support.vsware.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Nov-26-2025-03-42-59-5367-PM.png?width=688&height=403&name=image-png-Nov-26-2025-03-42-59-5367-PM.png) Once enabled, your push notifications will  automatically send to parents/guardians at the times you specified. ![](https://support.vsware.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Nov-26-2025-03-44-12-3623-PM.png?width=688&height=80&name=image-png-Nov-26-2025-03-44-12-3623-PM.png) Important reminder: If you are using this feature in your school, be sure that all relevant staff are informed, to avoid colleagues accidentally sending the unexplained absence push notification manually.  ### Templates To set up pre written SMS templates for the backup SMS, go to Admin \> Notifications \> Templates and click '+Add Template'. ![](https://support.vsware.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Nov-27-2025-01-06-32-1209-PM.png?width=2662&height=1478&name=image-png-Nov-27-2025-01-06-32-1209-PM.png)     --- If you still have questions, please visit our knowledge base at [support.vsware.ie](https://support.vsware.ie/?hsLang=en). 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