Management Information Sheet

This is a reminder that 2014 Autumn Census day is Thursday 2nd October 2014. Please ensure that your Census file is uploaded and submitted to Collect no later than Friday 3rd October 2014. If you have any problems meeting this deadline please email the Business Intelligence & Performance Service.

The Schools Block of the 2015/2016 Dedicated Schools Grant allocation will be based on the Autumn School Census, so it is important that your return is completed accurately and on time. The January Census will still be used to calculate any Pupil Premium allocations.

You will note that from Autumn 2014 the method of submission of the School and Pupil Census has changed. Schools must no longer send their files to the Local Authority via Anycomms or s2s. Instead, schools are required to upload their file to the Collect website.

School will need to upload their census file, resolve all outstanding errors and queries, and then submit their return within Collect. Any files found to have unresolved errors or queries cannot be accepted and will require resolution by schools before final submission to the Department for Education.

The Collect portal is available on: www.gov.uk

The guidance:

• explains how Collect can be accessed
• provides details of the Collect functionality for a data collection ‘blade’ using screen shots and examples to demonstrate the functionality
• explains how to upload, cleanse and submit your census data
• provides details on the reporting facilities and reports available

Editing census data is possible in Collect. Collect is accessed via Secure Access, the DfE single sign on system. If you require assistance with Secure Access, Local Authority teams will unfortunately be unable to assist as the system is maintained by the Department for Education (DfE). This is the same system used to access Key to Success and School to School (s2s), so you should by now be familiar with this.

Secure Access guidance is available on the login page. The approver within your school will be able to resolve any access issues (speak to your Headteacher who should be able to advise who has the approver role within your school). If you are an approver and require assistance, you will need to contact the DfE using a Secure Access Service Request Form.

Full guidance relating to definitions and the requirements of the census itself are available on the DfE website – you can access the guidance by clicking here. Please ensure you read these before completing your return and these should be your first point of reference for any queries. Further guidance and help sheets are available on the Norfolk Schools website, including details of preparations you can make for the Autumn Census, which you should also read before completing the return as there are a number of changes this year.

If you have referred to the available guidance but still require clarification on a complex data requirement issue, please email the via Business Intelligence and Performance Service (BIPS) Note that BIPS will be unable to assist with queries relating to Secure Access or with your management information system (MIS).

Please contact your software provider for queries regarding your MIS, running the School and Pupil Census module or producing the xml file. Those of you using Capita SIMS can refer to the SIMS Support pages, or contact ICT Shared Services by phone, fax, or email:

• telephone: 0845 303 3003
• facsimile: 01603 475 624
• email: ict@norfolk.gov.uk