SproutAbout 4+

It’s ok…but needs much work

It’s a decent app…when it works properly. The video section is unbelievably glitchy. Whenever I try to use it I get a note that there are unlimited 30 minute viewing windows which is fine but as soon as you try to view it freezes then you have to fuss with the app to get it to display the message to allow you to view again. This seems to happen lately whenever I try to view video which seems odd. Assuming this is a new addition because that didn’t previously happen. It’s absolutely annoying so I hope this is fixed sooner rather than later. The app also doesn’t always send messages so I echo the sentiment of others on this. I’ve logged in and out and even restarted my phone to see if it resolves the issue but it doesn’t so the issue definitely seems to be with the app itself. Also it occasionally will say there are no active children enrolled on the account but then the app will miraculously show them after a bit more fussing with the app. Not sure what is going on behind the scenes with the app but hopefully the bugs are worked out soon.

Developer Response ,

Thank you for providing this feedback. The SproutAbout team is closely monitoring reviews to better understand your needs. Please contact our dedicated support team at 1-877-SPROUT2 or support@sproutabout.com so we can help you resolve any technical issues as quickly as possible.

App Issues with Lack of Customer Service

Since Day 1 of using the app, I have been unable to read messages from my child’s Care Circle. I receive the notification that it was sent and can read the first few lines of it, but after selecting the notification, I am brought to a blank screen within the app with no error codes and am unable to see the group the message is in. I have tried logging out of the app, uninstalling/reinstalling the app, and restarting my phone to no avail. I was told to take screenshots of what I was seeing and send them to the Tech Support team to investigate, which I have done. I also received two case numbers that documented the issue. I might have been able to overlook this as glitches within the app, but the clincher is that I have both called and emailed the SproutAbout Tech Support team about this issue with the information they requested and have not received any additional support or acknowledgment on this case. It has been over a week with no call-back or response to my app issues. As someone who works in the Tech Support/Customer Service industry, it’s really frustrating to be on the other end of the line where you’re waiting for a reply with no indication of where the investigation is sitting or if a solution is around the corner.

Edit: App issue was resolved; while I thought it was a bit of a wait, Tech Support associates did call back and escalate the issue, and it was fixed next day.

Developer Response ,

Hello, we sincerely apologize for the troubles you've had with the app. To assist with this issue, it would be helpful to have a little bit more information. If you can provide a case number as well as your contact information to SproutAbout@learningcaregroup.com we will reach out directly ensure your problem is resolved.

Please Update

I’m both a teacher and a parent through LCG.
As a parent, i love the app and it’s features.

As a teacher, this app is horrible. It would make it far more easier if teachers were able to have some control over which children are shown in “my classroom”. I’m unsure of other centers, but ours has a bunch of children who can be in that room grouped together. Whenever we have children checked in it doesn’t show them all grouped together, rather spread throughout the list that doesn’t seem as though it has a method of sorting. As a brand new teacher it made it EXTREMELY confusing trying to figure out which children were actually assigned to be in that room on a day to day basis.
Please add the option to edit photos that are taken within the app itself, like if we need to fix the rotation, that is a big one for myself personally.
Please add the option to have an announcement, instead of just Activity/Sleep/ Lesson Plan/Food. If the announcement is added, if possible to make the notification appear differently than the updates that pop up for the child.
I have had a few parents say something about the comments they have left on activity updates, can we as teachers have the ability to reply back to the comments, as well as receive notifications of interactions with the updates.