For students who are Picked up, recording that the adult has arrived and signing the student out are two separate steps. Scanning on its own doesn't sign anyone out.
When a parent arrives
Either scan their QR code (see below), or the parent taps I have arrived in the Family App (if your school allows it). Without either, open the student and click Confirm Arrival yourself.
The student moves to Ready for Release, so class staff know to send them out.
When the student actually gets in the car, open them and click Dismiss, or use Dismiss on the scan screen.
On the student's record you'll see Verify pickup person with a list of everyone allowed to collect them: parents, authorised contacts, and anyone designated for today (marked One-off or Carpool). Pick the person in front of you. If nobody was scanned, Orah reminds you: "Please verify the pickup person manually."
Scanning a pickup QR code
You can scan from the Orah staff app or the staff website on a phone or iPad. You don't need a separate scanner.
Open the scanner in either of these ways:
• on any dismissal board, tap the blue + → Scan QR code, or
• from anywhere in the staff app, tap the floating + button on the Home tab → Scan QR code. (You see this button if your school has Dismissals and you have the View & Edit any dismissal event permission.)
The first time, allow camera access. If you see "Camera Permission Required", tap Open Settings and switch the camera on for Orah.Point the camera at the adult's code. Along the top you'll see each of today's dismissals with how many students have Arrived and been Dismissed. Scanning for lets you limit the scanner to one transport option, for example a single car line.
Check the pickup card. It shows the adult's photo, name and relationship, with a Verified tag (a one-time pickup person also has a One-off or Carpool badge). Check that the photo matches the person in front of you. It also lists every student that adult can collect today, on dismissals you're allowed to run, with each student's status, transport and any Dismissal note, grouped into Ready for dismissal and Need arrival confirmation.
Confirm the arrival. Tick the students under Need arrival confirmation and tap Confirm Arrival. They move to Ready for Release, so class staff can send them out. (If there's just one student with no dismissal note, Orah does this for you.)
Dismiss. When the students are with the adult, tick them under Ready for dismissal and tap Dismiss.
Read any dismissal notes. If a student has a note, Orah shows "Review dismissal notes — Read each note before dismissing." Read it and tap Got it.
Collect a signature (if your school requires it). The Confirm Pickup sheet asks the adult to sign. Tap Confirm. You'll see "Dismissal confirmed", and the student is marked Dismissed, with that adult recorded as the pickup person ("Pickup completed by you").
Recent dismissals, at the bottom of the scan screen, lists the students you've dismissed from the scanner, so you can check your own station.
Messages you might see when scanning
Message | What it means |
This dismissal session hasn't started yet. Students can't be dismissed yet. | Someone needs to tap Activate Dismissal first. |
This dismissal session has been completed. | That day's dismissal is already closed. |
You don't have permission to release students in this session. | You're not on that schedule's Who can view or Who can start list. |
No dismissal needed today (next to a student) | The student is Not Required today, for example absent on an all-day pass. |
Invalid QR code / Pickup code not recognised | It isn't an Orah pickup code for your school. Ask the adult to open the code again in the Family App. |
This pickup code has been revoked / This pickup code has expired | A standing pickup code is no longer valid. Check the adult's ID and contact the office. |
Designated pickup token not found or expired | A one-time pickup code is being used on the wrong day, or the parent has removed that person. |
Pickup person is not linked to all selected students | That adult isn't allowed to collect one of the students you chose. |