---
title: Setting up SZ Bookings
description: Set up a booking session, such as parent teacher interviews, so families can book their own time slots online.
url: "https://schoolzine.com/docs/setting-up-sz-bookings/"
updated: "2026-10-21"
category: SZ Bookings
tags:
  - bookings
  - parent teacher interviews
  - sz bookings
---

# Setting up SZ Bookings

SZ Bookings (formerly Session Keeper) lets families book their own times for parent teacher interviews, school tours, and anything else with set time slots. No more paper sign-up sheets or phone calls to the office.

## Find SZ Bookings

In the Control Centre, select **SZ Bookings** from the menu. The **Sessions** page lists your booking sessions. From here you can also manage **Assets** (the people, rooms or things families book), booking **Settings** and **Staff Sessions**.

![The Sessions page](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/bookings-sessions.png)

## Create a session

A session has three steps: **Details**, **Assets** and **Availability**. Click **Save and Continue** to move through them.

### 1. Details

1. Click **New Session**.
2. Type a **Session Title**, such as "Term 4 Parent Teacher Interviews 2026".
3. Choose a **Session Type**:
   - **Student**: families book with the teachers linked to their child, which suits parent teacher interviews.
   - **Staff**: families book with chosen staff members.
   - **Asset**: families book a room or a resource.
4. Leave **Session Status** ticked as **Active**.
5. To open bookings for a set time, untick **Always Open** and choose the **Open Bookings** and **Close Bookings** dates and times.
6. Add a **Session Description** that tells families what they're booking.

![The session Details step](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/bookings-new-session.png)

### 2. Assets

Choose who or what families can book in this session, such as the teachers taking part in interviews.

### 3. Availability

Set up the time slots. Choose the days and times each person or room is available, the **Duration** of each appointment, and the **Interval By** setting for how often slots start. You can mark single slots **Unavailable**, for example over lunch.

## Optional settings

Open a session to fine-tune it:

- **Session Access Groups**: only contacts in these groups can book. If you don't set any, every contact in your account can book.
- **Session Manager**: staff who receive notifications and access request emails.
- **Web Form**: ask families for more details with each booking.
- **Booking lockout**: stop bookings a set time before the slot, for example "close bookings 1 hour before".
- **Booking limit**: stop families making several bookings in the same period.
- **Reminder**: send a reminder before the booking.
- **Pause Bookings**: stop new bookings for a while without closing the session.

> **Tip:** Families can only book if their email address is in your contacts. Check your contact lists are up to date before you open bookings.

## Let families know

When the session is ready, send families the booking link with **Communicate** or **Quick Send Message**, or add it to your newsletter.

## Related articles

- [Sending a message with Communicate](https://schoolzine.com/docs/sending-a-message-with-communicate/)
- [Creating a group and adding contacts](https://schoolzine.com/docs/creating-a-group-and-adding-contacts/)

## Need a hand?

Our Customer Success Team is here to help. Call **1300 795 503**, email **support@schoolzine.com** or start a live chat in your Schoolzine account.