A parent’s guide to Microsoft Sway
Microsoft Sway: School updates, without the extra checking.
Another school newsletter to fit around work? Here is how to open your school’s Sway, find useful dates and get help with a link that will not open.
A few simple steps
How to use Microsoft Sway
- 1Find the Sway link in your school’s email.
- 2Open the school’s viewing link. An “Anyone with the link” viewing link does not require a Microsoft account.
- 3Scroll through the newsletter or update.
- 4Look for your child’s year group, clubs and important dates.
- 5Follow the school’s instructions for forms, payments or bookings.
- 6If Sway asks you to sign in or says you do not have permission, ask school to confirm the correct viewing link and access instructions.
Keep it manageable
Top 5 Microsoft Sway tips
- Check which school update and date you are reading.
- For easier reading, open More options and choose Accessibility view.
- Read linked forms and booking instructions separately.
- A club mention does not mean a place is available.
- Ask the school about unclear dates or missing details.
A routine that works for you
How to optimise your Microsoft Sway routine
Parent Push is a personal assistant for school updates - actually important to you.
Connect the inbox your school emails you on. Choose words such as “art club” or “Year 3”. Parent Push can check relevant Sway links in those emails and send matching WhatsApp alerts.
Only pages that open without signing in can be read. Private pages stay private. Check the school’s update before booking or paying. An alert does not reserve a place or confirm availability.
Microsoft Sway help for parents
Why does the school’s Sway link ask me to sign in?
The school may have restricted the newsletter to its organisation or specific people, or sent an editing link rather than a viewing link. Ask school which link and account you should use. Do not ask it to make confidential information public just so Parent Push can read it.
Why has an old Sway newsletter link stopped working?
Resetting a Sway’s sharing settings changes its link. Ask school for the current viewing link rather than continuing to use an old email or bookmark.
What if a date or detail is unclear?
An alert may point out an unclear date or detail. If you are unsure, read the school’s update or ask the school. Parent Push may not spot every unclear detail.
Can Parent Push read every Microsoft Sway page?
No. It checks school Sway links found in the emails you have asked it to monitor. The school must allow the page to open without signing in. This setting is called “Anyone with the link”. Private pages stay private.
Does a Sway link mean there is a booking link?
Not always. A school page may share club details or dates without a link to book. A link to read an update is different from a link to book a place. If Parent Push has checked a booking link, the alert tells you. You still need to check availability with the school.
How does Parent Push find updates about my clubs?
It uses the club names or words you have chosen, along with the school email and its linked Sway page. This helps it find updates that matter to your family, rather than sending an alert for every mention of a club.
How can I keep track of school newsletter dates around work?
Start with your child’s year group and the dates you need. Add them to your calendar. Parent Push can check relevant Sway links in school emails you choose to check, when the pages open without signing in. Check the original newsletter before acting.
Still stuck? Your school office can check missing invitations, children and school payment items.
Find your school’s contact details in England
Outside England, use your school’s own website.
For teachers: sharing a Sway school newsletter
- In Share, choose a viewing link for families—not an editing link.
- Use the audience permitted by your school’s privacy policy. “Anyone with the link” is not appropriate for confidential pupil information.
- If you reset sharing settings, send families the new link. Make booking instructions and dates clear in the newsletter.