Who it is for / Driving instructors / New pupil enquiries
Never lose a new pupil to the next instructor on the list.
A learner or a parent rings three instructors and books with the first one who answers. While You Work answers in your school’s name while you teach, asks the questions you would ask, and sends you a complete enquiry to ring back between lessons.
Why new pupil calls are the ones you cannot miss
Most learners and parents ring around. If your phone goes to voicemail during a lesson, they try the next name on the list, and by the time you ring back between lessons they have often booked with someone else.
You cannot pick up with a learner at the wheel, and you should not. So the calls that matter most arrive when you are least able to take them.
What your receptionist asks a new learner
- Whether they are a new learner, an existing pupil, or a parent booking for someone
- What they want: first lessons, more lessons or an intensive course
- Their pick-up postcode or area
- Whether they hold a provisional licence, and roughly how much experience they have
- The best number to ring back, read back to check it
If you have set a lesson price, it gives that when asked and says you will confirm packages and discounts. If not, it says you will confirm prices.
Parents booking for a son or daughter
Parents often ring on behalf of a learner. The receptionist asks whether the caller is booking for someone else, takes the learner’s licence and experience, and the parent’s number, so you know exactly who to ring back and where the learner is starting from.
What reaches you, and when
Every enquiry is emailed to you within a minute and is in the app, which opens in your phone browser (notifications are coming), so you can see it between lessons. You ring back with everything already written down.
What callers hear
An example call, word for word
The receptionist asks one thing at a time and checks the number back. The details reach you by email a minute after the call, and anything urgent by text straight away.
What reaches you
Julie (parent), 07700 900314, LS18 Horsforth. Daughter, 17, wants to start lessons. Provisional licence yes, no experience.
Receptionist: Hi, you’re through to Sarah’s Driving School. Sarah is teaching, so I’m the automated assistant taking details for a call back between lessons. Calls are recorded so nothing gets missed. What’s your name?
Caller: Hi, it’s Julie. I’m ringing for my daughter. She’s just turned 17 and wants to start lessons.
Receptionist: Thanks, Julie. Has she got her provisional licence yet?
Caller: Yes, it came last week. She’s never driven before.
Receptionist: And what’s your postcode, for picking her up?
Caller: LS18, in Horsforth.
Receptionist: And what’s the best number for Sarah to ring you on?
Caller: 07700 900 314.
Receptionist: So that’s 07700 900 314. Is that right?
Caller: Yes, that’s right.
Receptionist: Thanks, Julie. Sarah will ring you back between lessons.
Questions
Questions from driving instructors
Does it ask whether they have a provisional licence?
Yes. It asks whether the learner already holds a provisional licence and roughly how much driving experience they have, so you know where they are starting from.
Can it tell callers my lesson price?
Yes, if you add it in the set-up form. It gives that price when asked and says you will confirm packages and discounts. If you leave it blank, it says you will confirm prices.
What if they live outside my pick-up area?
If the postcode is clearly outside the area you set, it says politely that it may be outside the area you usually cover, then still takes their details so you can decide.
Can it book lessons into my diary?
Yes, on the Business plan. It offers your real free lesson times, books the lesson and texts the pupil a confirmation with your deposit link, then a reminder before the lesson. On Pro it can text the pupil your booking link instead, and on Starter it takes the details and you confirm.
More for driving instructors: lesson cancellations, lesson types and intensive courses, the lost income calculator, and how it works for driving schools.
Fill the gaps in your diary without picking up the phone
Free for 7 days, no card. Pupils and clients who ring while you are busy get a proper answer, a text to say you will ring back, and on Pro your booking link. Plans from £39 a month plus VAT after that; Pro is £69, or £49 plus VAT for 12 months for the first 50 UK businesses.