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Your Start-of-Year Checklist
This simple check list outlines those important tasks that can make a real difference to how smoothly your new school year begins!
How to use this guide
This page is organised into a few simple steps that are designed to set you up for a smooth Term 1, 2026!
Simply follow these steps below, and be sure to reach out to our team if you need any additional support.
Step 1. Catch up on our Start of 2026 webinar
Whether you have new starters, or simply need a refresher on how to use Flexischools as a supplier, be sure to watch the recording from our recent webinar!
Step 2. Update class lists
Updating your class lists is an important step—and a friendly reminder: once updated, it immediately forces all students at your school to update their class before they next order. To keep things running smoothly, we recommend updating this before Term 1 commences.
- Article: How to update your class lists
- Article: I have a new class list to update, do I need to add the student's names as well?
- Article: How can I tell if the class list has already been updated?
- Article: How do parents update their classes?
- Article: How long will it take for parents to be prompted to update their class?
Tip: You don't need individual student names, just the name of the class. Parents will add their child to the corresponding class, once classes are set in the new year.
Step 3. Test your label printer
Plug everything in and check that your label printer is working after the break. And we also recommend checking that you have enough labels, and placing an order ASAP if you need more.
- Article: How to order more labels
- Article: Label printer troubleshooting
Step 4. Print plenty of promotional resources
A new school year means a new group of families who may be new to your school. Set them up for success with resources - such as posters, flyers and social media images or newsletter content - that guide them through the process of ordering through your service.
Best of all? We've done the hard work for you! You can access everything you need from our Promotional Resource library - from flyers, to social media tiles to content for your school newsletter.
- Article: How do I link to Flexischools from my school website?
- Marketing resources: Promotional & orientation
- Marketing resources: Multilingual promotional resources
- Marketing resources: Special Event & Food Days
Tip: While you're there, why not have a look at our Special Event Day resource library, and get planning for the special days you may like to run in 2026?

Step 5. Ensure your service dates are correct
At the end of last year, our team preloaded your services with the standard state school holiday dates for 2026. If your school’s schedule has unique dates, no worries—you can easily update them through the supplier portal, using the instructions linked below for each day that differs from the standard dates.
- Article: Close your service for a day
Step 6. Check/update your details
New staff in 2026? Need to add or remove a user from your supplier portal, change contact information or even update your bank details? Tick this off your list before your students are back.

Step 7. Check your menu or catalogue
Adding fresh images or items to your menu can make a real difference! It's easy to do through your supplier portal—add, remove, or update items and categories with ease.
- Article: How to create a new menu category
- Article: How to create and edit menu items
- Article: How to make changes to your menu
- Article: How to add images to your menu
- Samle imagery: Menu & catalogue images
Step 8. Start planning your Special Food/Event Days
Special Food or Event Days are proven to create excitement and increase orders! And what better time to get a head start on planning than now. With Harmony Day, Lent, Pancake Day, Easter and plenty of sporting carnivals just around the corner, you'll thank yourself later for getting this planned now!
- Download: 2026 School Calendar (high res)
- Download: 2026 School Calendar (high res)
- Article: How to create a Special Food Day service
- Article: Add a service date for an event/special food day
- Article: How to create an event service
- Resources and inspiration: Special Event & Food Days
Step 9. Send a notification to families
The 'App Notifications' feature in the Supplier Portal lets you easily communicate with parents by sending notifications through the Flexischools app. Use it to share menu specials, announce new services, or provide other important updates.
Tip: Try sending a push notification to let parents know what day your service reopens in the new year.
Step 10. Join the Green Chair Panel
We have created the Flexischools Green Chair Panel to ensure that Flexischools users - parents, suppliers and schools - have a voice in the design and direction of Flexischools. It's a small group of users who will provide feedback on various product features to ensure that we build products that fit your needs.
- Sign up: Green Chair Panel
Step 11. Join the Friends of Flexischools Facebook group
Friends of Flexischools is a place for service managers, schools, and P&Cs to share tips, ask questions and hear more about the latest Flexischools features. Flexischools staff will be in there to help wherever they can.
- Facebook group: Friends of Flexischools
