1. Before You Start
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Your child will need a Google Account for a child, managed through Google Family Link.
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A parent/carer will also need a personal Google (Gmail) account to supervise.
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Make sure you have:
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Access to a home Wi-Fi network
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A parent/carer’s smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android) with internet access
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Important:
Your child’s school Microsoft 365 account will not work as the sign-in account for this Chromebook.
You must create or use a personal Google account for the child through Family Link.
2. Install the Google Family Link App on the Parent/Carer’s Phone or Tablet
On Android:
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Open the Google Play Store.
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Search for Google Family Link and tap Install.
- Google Family Link – Apps on Google Play
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On iPhone or iPad (iOS):
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Open the App Store.
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Search for Google Family Link and tap Get.
- Google Family Link on the App Store
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Open the app and sign in with the parent/carer’s Google account. If you have an Android device, you should already have a Google account. If you have an iOS device then you may have to create a new account if you have never had a Google account previously.
Follow the prompts in the Family Link app to create or link a child account.
Tip: You can create the child’s Google account in the app before turning on the Chromebook, or create it during Chromebook setup.
3. Turn On the Chromebook
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Press the Power button.
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Wait for the Welcome screen to appear, then click “Get started”.
4. Connect to Wi-Fi
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Click the Wi-Fi icon in the bottom-right corner.
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Select your Wi-Fi network.
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Enter the password and click Connect.
6. Select Sign In For a Child
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On the account setup screen, click the For a child option.
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The Chromebook will guide you through:
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Signing in with the child’s personal Google account created through Family Link (not their school account).
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Linking the account to the parent/carer’s Family Link account.
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The parent/carer will be asked to:
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Sign in with their own Google account for verification.
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Approve the child’s account and agree to Google’s Parental Consent.
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Tip: You should create an account on the device for each child who will use it so they have access to their files and settings. You can also setup standard accounts so parent/carers or other family members in the household can access the device if they need to. Please make sure the keep usernames and passwords safe and secure to prevent inappropriate use.
7. Review and Apply Family Link Settings
Take time to review settings for your child’s account. Setting the Family Link settings appropriately depending on your child’s age, competence and maturity will help keep them save when using the device.
Using the Family Link app on the parent/carer’s phone, you can:
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Set screen time limits and a bedtime schedule.
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Approve or block apps and websites.
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View your child’s activity and location (if device location is turned on).
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Manage Google services (e.g., SafeSearch, YouTube restrictions).
Tip: Changes made in the app will update automatically on the Chromebook.
For more guidance on Family Link and how to configure it appropriately click the link below
8. Finish Chromebook Setup
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Choose whether to turn on Google Sync (recommended to sync bookmarks and settings).
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Your child’s Chromebook will complete the setup and apply Family Link restrictions.
9. Recommended Apps for Schoolwork
Watch the unnarrated video below for a click by click demo on how to setup the Chromebook for school and/or view the written instructions below.
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Open the Chrome browser.
- Navigate to The Radclyffe School website (either “Google” it or go directly to theradclyffeschool.co.uk)
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Click on “Student Login” on the top bar.
- The child should sign in with their school email address (e.g. [email protected]) and their school password.
- Open the School Email. In the right hand side of the address bar there are two options. Click on the first one to “Allow outlook.office.com to open email links”. Then “Done”. This will set the school email as the default email app. Then click the other icon in the address bar to “Install Outlook PWA”. This will create Outlook as a separate app for easy access. When Outlook is open you will see it in the Application bar at the bottom of the screen. To maintain easy access, click on the icon with two fingers and from the menu that appears, click “Pin”.
Next open “OneDrive” from the Student Portal (https://cranmereducationtrust-my.sharepoint.com/my). Follow the same steps as with Outlook above to install OneDrive as an app on the device and then pin it to the application bar.
Creating or editing Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint documents is all done within the OneDrive app. When the relevant document is selected it will open it in web versions of the apps within the Chrome browser.
Finally follow the previous steps for Microsoft Teams (https://teams.microsoft.com/v2), which will give your child access to “Teams” created by school to enable them to communicate with their teacher and class on classwork/home learning.
These are the main apps that you can install to assist with school work.
You should also create a bookmark for the TRS – Student Portal (https://cranmereducationtrust.sharepoint.com/sites/TRS-StudentPortal) so your child has quick access to the resources they may need to complete any school work. To do this, when on the Student Portal homepage click the star icon at the right-hand side of the Address bar
10. Optional but Helpful Setup
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Bookmark Key School Sites: Open Chrome, visit the school portal, Satchel:One, Sparx Maths/Science, and click the ★ star to save them as bookmarks.
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Enable Automatic Updates: Click time → Settings → About ChromeOS → Check for updates.
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Adjust Accessibility Settings (if needed): Click time → Settings → Accessibility.
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Organise Files: Use the Files app for personal files and OneDrive for school files. Create folders to organise your documents.
11. Tips
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To sign out: Click the time (bottom-right) → Sign out.
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To add another supervised child: Use the Family Link app to create or link an account.
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Keep passwords safe: The parent/carer should store both their own and the child’s passwords securely.
