Back-to-school WhatsApp helpline launches today as expert says 'stop being a school-morning short order cook'

A new WhatsApp helpline for parents has launched today, ahead of the return to school this week, and it comes with some unusual advice from a former teacher: stop being the morning short order cook.

The Back to School Helpline, from home appliance brand Beko, will run on WhatsApp from 6pm to 9pm on Tuesday 1st September, giving parents somewhere to turn for those last-minute panics. It's fronted by former teacher, Sunday Times bestselling author and mum of two Lou Beckett, who will be on hand alongside Beko's product experts to answer questions in real time.

The launch comes as new research found 82 per cent of parents who use a school WhatsApp group say they'd be lost without it, with almost two-thirds (65 per cent) admitting they'd forget important school events without the class chat. More than a third (37 per cent) say it's saved them from missing a non-uniform day, while others credit it with keeping them right on sports days (32 per cent) and inset days (22 per cent).

The study of 1,000 UK parents also found 74 per cent consider back-to-school one of the most challenging times of year, with getting children ready and out the door among the biggest daily pressures.

As part of the Helpline launch, Lou has shared her top tips for a smoother September, and the one raising the most eyebrows is her advice to 'retire as the morning short order cook'.

"Retire as the morning short-order cook," Lou advises. If you spend school mornings pouring cereal bowls and making toast while trying to get yourself caffeinated and ready, you're doing too much. Put cereal, snacks and breakfast basics into child-friendly containers on reachable shelves so the kids can sort themselves out. Tell them the kitchen is now self-serve, they'll enjoy the independence, and you'll buy a few precious minutes for a hot cup of coffee before the madness starts.

Salah Sun, Head of Product Management at home-appliance brand Beko, said: "September has a way of arriving faster than anyone's ready for. One minute it's sandcastles, the next it's a scramble to get school uniforms and PE kits washed. When family life is demanding, having appliances you can rely on means one less thing to worry about."

"At Beko, we stress-test our appliances for proven durability, so they can keep up with the demands of busy family life – from last-minute uniform washes and keeping lunchbox favourites fresh to the daily after-dinner clean-up."

"We stress-test our washing machine doors by opening and closing them 20,000 times in our labs to ensure reliable performance wash after wash, whilst our fridge shelves are tested to hold up to 150kg, giving families confidence they can cope with a big weekly shop."

"For parents, that means dependable performance when they need it most, fewer everyday disruptions and greater confidence that their appliance will continue to make life easier for years to come."

Lou's other back-to-school swaps worth making:

Put the logistics on one shared calendar Whose turn is it for pick-up? Is football today or tomorrow? This is where entire weeks quietly fall apart. Get every drop-off, pick-up and after-school club onto one shared calendar at the start of term, on the fridge, on your phone, wherever it'll actually get looked at, so nobody's relying on memory alone by week three.

Ditch uniform perfectionism Unless your child spends their lunch breaks mud wrestling, they don't need a new set of immaculate uniforms every day. Teachers just want children to be comfortable, clean and ready to learn. But when the last-minute realisation hits that a dirty PE kit is languishing at the bottom of the laundry basket, don't panic. A trusty washing machine with a quick-wash setting can handle the rescue mission, so you can still get to bed on time.

Run a stealth routine reboot A week before term starts, bring bedtime and wake-up alarms forward by 15 minutes each day. Getting children back into the 'out of bed, teeth-brushed, actual clothes on' rhythm early will save you from wrestling a reluctant child out of their duvet on day one.

Enforce a 'soft landing' for week one Teachers know that kids' brains will be fried by the time the bell rings during the first week of term. This is not the moment to introduce evening chore charts or strict homework routines. Treat week one like recovery from severe jetlag – feed everyone, let your home appliances handle the domestics, and put the kids to bed nice and early, before you lose your mind!

The Beko Back to School Helpline runs from 6pm to 9pm on Tuesday 1st September on WhatsApp, giving parents access to practical advice from Lou and Beko's product experts whenever those last-minute worries feel overwhelming. 

To join the Beko Back-to-School Helpline on WhatsApp visit www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8m4LWCcW4xi6h4tw3a or for more information, visit www.beko.co.uk/back-to-school