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Introduction
ePraise is a learning engagement platform used by hundreds of schools across the UK and around the world. Designed by a teacher for teachers, it is an all-in-one toolkit that helps schools motivate students, engage parents, and save teachers time.
This comprehensive guide explains what ePraise is, how it works, its key features, and why schools are adopting it to transform their culture.
What Is ePraise?
ePraise is a digital platform that started as a school rewards system. Over the years, it has evolved into a comprehensive learning engagement platform that sits at the heart of school communities.
The platform was founded in 2010 by Ben Dunford, a secondary school ICT teacher in Devon. Frustrated with the inefficiency of paper-based reward systems and the poor motivation of students, he built a digital solution that has now become a trusted name in education technology.
Today, ePraise is headquartered in Exeter, Devon, and is used by hundreds of schools worldwide. It is now part of the Firefly Learning and Veracross families, following an acquisition in 2021.
The platform is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) with registration reference ZA079765, and its data centers are located in the UK and Ireland.
The Three Core Aims of ePraise
ePraise is built around three core aims that address the biggest challenges in education:
1. Motivate Students
At its heart, ePraise recognizes and rewards student achievement. Students can earn points for positive behavior, effort, and academic success. These points can be tracked, celebrated, and exchanged for rewards, creating a culture of motivation and aspiration.
2. Engage Parents
ePraise gives parents real-time visibility into their child’s school life. Parents can see merits and attendance data, check homework, and communicate with the school through the platform. This transparency builds stronger home-school partnerships.
3. Save Teachers Time
ePraise automates and streamlines administrative tasks that traditionally consume hours of teacher time. From seating plans and homework to parents’ evenings and behavior tracking, the platform handles the admin so teachers can focus on teaching.
Key Features of ePraise
ePraise offers a comprehensive suite of tools that cover almost every aspect of school life.
Rewards and Recognition
Behaviour Management
- Demerits and interventions: Track and manage negative behaviour
- Behaviour tracking: Monitor trends and identify students who need support
- Wellbeing check-ins: Tools to support student wellbeing
Teaching and Learning Tools
- Homework: Set, track, and share homework with students and parents
- Seating plans: Create and manage classroom seating arrangements
- Marksheets: Record and analyse student progress
- Cover work: Manage lesson cover and supply work
- Assessment tools: Track and report on student attainment
Communication and Administration
- Parents’ evenings: Schedule and manage parent-teacher meetings
- Messenger: Communicate with parents and students
- Attendance tracking: Monitor and report on attendance
- Data analytics: Generate reports and insights for school leaders
- MIS integration: Seamless integration with school management information systems
How ePraise Works for Different Users
For Students
Students access ePraise to check their points, view their achievements, and track their progress. They can see when points were awarded, what they were for, and who awarded them. This visibility is a powerful motivator.
Students can also:
- Spend points in the school shop
- Enter prize draws
- Donate points to charity
- View their attendance record
- Access homework tasks
For Parents
Parents get their own login to ePraise. They can:
- See their child’s merits and achievements
- View attendance data
- Access homework information
- Communicate with the school via messenger
- Book parents’ evening appointments
Parents must create their own account using the email address they have given to the school.
For Teachers
Teachers use ePraise daily to:
- Award points and merits to students
- Set and track homework
- Manage seating plans
- Record attendance and behaviour
- Communicate with parents
- Access data and run reports
The platform is designed to be quick and easy to use, taking seconds rather than hours to complete administrative tasks.
For School Leaders
School leaders use Praise to:
- Monitor school-wide behaviour and wellbeing trends
- Generate data-rich reports
- Track attendance and attainment across cohorts
- Manage whole-school communications
- Make informed, evidence-based decisions
Getting Started with ePraise
For Schools
Many schools get up and running the same day from ordering. However, most schools choose to take time to involve staff in training first.
The process typically involves:
- Book a demo: Schools can request a demo to see the platform in action
- Choose a pricing plan: Pricing starts from £500 per year
- Set up the platform: The ePraise team provides onboarding support
- Train staff: Training is available via live online sessions, webinars, documentation, and videos
- Go live: The platform is rolled out to students and parents
For Students and Parents
If your school uses ePraise, you can access it through:
- The website: Go to epraise.co.uk and select your school
- The mobile app: Available for both iOS and Android devices
To log in:
- Students: Use the login details provided by the school
- Parents: Enter the email address you gave to the school and request a login code
The Impact of ePraise: What Schools Say
ePraise has been widely praised by schools for its impact on motivation, behaviour, and teacher workload.
Motivation and Behaviour
- A school reported that “Epraise motivates students to do well and helps raise the profile of rewards to students, parents and stakeholders”
- Another school noted that “since the introduction of epraise at our academy we have seen increased levels of motivation and improved attitudes across our academy”
- An assistant head teacher said: “A recent study shows we’re giving 811% more praise to the kids now compared to previous years without ePraise which is phenomenal”
Teacher Workload
- “Epraise has transformed teacher workload and pupil motivation,” said the Head of ICT at Prestfelde Prep School
- A user review on EdTech Impact stated that ePraise “reduces teacher workload” through its reporting and data tools
Parental Engagement
- “It improves our internal and parental communication significantly,” said Stuart Ayres, Senior Deputy Head at Myddelton College
- A school reported that “students love it and check it frequently, parents love the Parents Evening module and to see their children’s merits”
Overall Satisfaction
According to a survey referenced by Teacher Toolkit:
- 100% of schools said ePraise has “had a positive impact at their school”
- 100% said “they would recommend ePraise to other schools”
On EdTech Impact, ePraise has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 from verified reviews.
ePraise and Firefly Learning
In March 2021, ePraise joined Firefly Learning. Both companies share a common goal of improving the education experience for students, teachers, and parents.
The acquisition means that ePraise and Firefly now operate as part of the same family, but both platforms continue to be sold, supported, and developed independently. Schools can expect to see the benefits of this collaboration, including integrated features and services.
Pricing
ePraise offers paid subscription plans for schools. Pricing starts from £500 per year.
Schools can work out the exact cost for their institution using the pricing calculator on the ePraise website. Given the range of features included – from rewards and behaviour management to seating plans, homework, and parents’ evenings – many schools consider it excellent value for money.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Not Involving Staff in Training
ePraise is most effective when all staff understand how to use it. Schools should invest time in training to ensure consistent and effective use across the school.
Mistake 2: Underusing the Platform
Some schools use ePraise only for rewards, missing out on its other powerful features like seating plans, homework, and parents’ evenings. The platform offers far more than just a rewards system.
Mistake 3: Not Engaging Parents
Parents need to be encouraged to create their own accounts. Schools should actively promote ePraise to parents and explain the benefits of staying connected.
Mistake 4: Inconsistent Use
For the platform to be effective, all staff need to use it consistently. Inconsistent use can undermine the rewards system and reduce student motivation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ePraise?
ePraise is a learning engagement platform for schools that helps motivate students, engage parents, and save teachers time.
Who founded ePraise?
ePraise was founded in 2010 by Ben Dunford, a secondary school teacher from Devon.
How much does ePraise cost?
ePraise pricing starts from £500 per year. Schools can use the pricing calculator on the ePraise website to get an exact quote.
Is ePraise available as an app?
Yes, ePraise has mobile apps available for both iOS and Android devices.
How do parents log in to ePraise?
Parents log in using the email address they have provided to the school. They can request a login code and then set up their account.
What is the ePraise shop?
The ePraise shop is where students can spend their earned points on rewards, prizes, or activities.
Does ePraise integrate with school systems?
Yes, ePraise integrates seamlessly with school Management Information Systems (MIS) like SIMs.
Where is ePraise headquartered?
ePraise is headquartered in Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom.
Is ePraise part of Firefly Learning?
Yes, ePraise joined Firefly Learning in March 2021. Both platforms continue to operate independently while sharing resources and expertise.
Is ePraise GDPR compliant?
Yes, ePraise is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and complies with GDPR requirements.
Conclusion
ePraise has come a long way since its founder, a frustrated teacher in Devon, decided to build a better way to reward and engage students. Today, it is a comprehensive learning engagement platform that sits at the heart of hundreds of school communities around the world.
By focusing on three core aims – motivating students, engaging parents, and saving teachers time – ePraise addresses some of the biggest challenges in education. Its wide range of features, from rewards and behaviour management to seating plans and parents’ evenings, makes it a powerful all-in-one toolkit for schools.
With a 4.9 out of 5 rating from verified users and 100% of schools saying they would recommend it, ePraise has earned its reputation as a trusted and effective platform. For schools looking to transform their culture, improve behaviour, and reduce teacher workload, ePraise is certainly worth exploring.
