Management Information Sheet

School and Pupil Census Autumn 2020

MI Sheet TypeInformation
To Be Completed By: 17/09/2020
MI Number:95/20
Publication Date:18/09/2020 12:00:00
LA Contact:i&a@norfolk.gov.uk
Audience:Head Teacher/ All staff

School and Pupil Census Autumn 2020

Important Dates

Familiarisation Period for test files Closes at 3pm Friday 25 September 2020
Autumn School Census Day Thursday 1 October 2020
LA Maintained Submission Deadline Friday 2 October 2020

LA Maintained Schools must upload and submit to COLLECT no later than Friday 2nd October 2020. Any LA Maintained school that cannot meet this deadline must email the Intelligence & Analytics Team (I&A) at i&a@norfolk.gov.uk

Academies please note that the Local Authority (LA) is not able to see or assist with your School Census. Academies with any questions relating to completing the school census should contact the DfE helpdesk via email edd.helpdesk@education.gsi.gov.uk

Why is this Census Important?

The census is a key source of data used to calculate schools' funding. It is essential that all schools complete the census accurately and in a timely manner to ensure they are funded correctly. Failure to do so could result in a school missing out on funding to which it is entitled or receiving more funding than it is due and having to repay any overpayment.

Changes since the last Census

Changes for Autumn 2020 only Termly attendance module

Summer term attendance will not be collected however, we still require: pupil no longer on roll records for all pupils with DOB between 2003-09-01 and 2015-08-31 (aged between 4 and 15 as at 2019-08-31), with a leaving date between 2020-01-01 and 2020-07-31 and are not a boarder.

Exclusion collection period

Due to the absence of a summer census collection, we have decided to re-collect any exclusion with a start date in the full 2019 to 2020 academic year in the autumn 2020 census.

FSM eligibility period

Due to the absence of a summer census collection, we have decided to amend the 'end date' range for autumn 2020 census to collect an FSM eligibility end date that is, on or after 2020-01-17 and up to and including the autumn census day (2020-10-01).

New data items Programme aim

From autumn 2020 all on roll pupils undertaking 16-19 programmes must have a programme aim recorded alongside the component learning aims. For secondary, all-through schools with sixth forms and PRU/AP only. The first collection of this data will be in the autumn 2020 census.

Programme type

For each learning aim, the type of programme it belongs to. For secondary, all-through schools with sixth forms and PRU/AP only. The first collection of this data will be in the autumn 2020 census.

Work placement start date

For the recording of work placements, where applicable, the start date of the work placement. For secondary, all-through schools with sixth forms and PRU/AP only. The first collection of this data will be in the autumn 2020 census.

Work placement end date

For the recording of work placements, where applicable, the end date of the work placement. For secondary, all-through schools with sixth forms and PRU/AP only. The first collection of this data will be in the autumn 2020 census.

Work placement hours

For the recording of work placements, where applicable, the number of work placement hours. For secondary, all-through schools with sixth forms and PRU/AP only. The first collection of this data will be in the autumn 2020 census.

Work placement mode

For the recording of work placements, where applicable, the mode of work placement - whether it is internal or external. For secondary, all-through schools with sixth forms and PRU/AP only. The first collection of this data will be in the autumn 2020 census.

Work placement employer ID

For the recording of work placements, where applicable, the employer ID for the work placement. For secondary, all-through schools with sixth forms and PRU/AP only. The first collection of this data will be in the autumn 2020 census.

T level planned hours

The total planned timetabled hours for the student for the duration of the T Level. For secondary, all-through schools with sixth forms and PRU/AP only. The first collection of this data will be in the autumn 2020 census.

T level planned employability, enrichment and pastoral hours

The total planned employability, enrichment and pastoral timetabled hours for the student for the duration of the T Level. For secondary, all-through schools with sixth forms and PRU/AP only. The first collection of this data will be in the autumn 2020 census.

Total number of sessions attending approved educational activity

The total number of sessions a pupil has spent in attendance at an approved educational activity within the collection period. For all schools except nursery. The first collection of this data will occur in the spring 2021 census.

Total number of sessions unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances

The total number of sessions a pupil was unable to attend due to an exceptional circumstance within the collection period. For all schools except nursery. The first collection of this data will occur in the spring 2021 census.

Total number of sessions not attending in circumstances relating to coronavirus (COVID-19)

The total number of sessions a pupil was not attending in circumstances relating to coronavirus (COVID-19) within the collection period. For all schools except nursery. The first collection of this data will occur in the spring 2021 census.

Existing data items Termly attendance module

From autumn 2020, data will be recorded and returned on all categories of school attendance, rather than just absence. The first collection of this data will occur in the spring 2021 census.

Exclusion reasons

From autumn 2020, changes include: extending the exclusion reason codes, allowing up to 3 reasons to be submitted per exclusion. The first collection of up to 3 reasons and new codes will occur in the spring 2021 census.

Exclusion collection period

Amended in line with attendance, with the start of autumn 2020 term set as 01 August and the end of summer term 31 July.

Additional exclusion reason added

To support the government's response to coronavirus (COVID-19), an additional reason of 'Willful and repeated transgression of protective measures in place to protect public health' has been added.

There are no deleted data items for the 2020 to 2021 school census.

DfE Sign in

Please remember to check you can login to COLLECT before Census day, using the following link: services.signin.education.gov.uk/

Census Checklist

For extended checklist see separate document called Census Preparation Checklist

Before Census Day Check you can log into COLLECT using DfE Sign-In
Check your entry in GIAS is correct
Ensure that all relevant pupil data is correct on your MIS
Upload a file into COLLECT during the familiarisation period.

This will enable you to check for any unexpected errors and queries that may not necessarily show up in your Management Information System (MIS). Please note this familiarisation period closes 3pm on Friday 25 September 2020, and the Census will not show up when you log into COLLECT. The blade will return on Census day ready for you to upload and submit your return.

Census Day Upload to COLLECT via Secure Access

Once you have had your return approved by your Head/ Data manager then: Login to COLLECT via the DfE Sign-in services.signin.education.gov.uk/ and upload your xml file.

Check for Errors & Queries

Open your return and check for errors and queries within COLLECT. To clear errors, amendments may need to be made within your MI system and a new file uploaded. Queries need checking and either data amending within COLLECT along with an appropriate note. Please see notepad guidance notes for acceptable wording.

Submit your file

Once you've cleared all errors and attached all notes to queries within COLLECT you can submit your file.

After Census Day Approval and Authorisation

If you are an LA Maintained School, NCC will check through your Census looking for additional errors. We may contact you if we have any questions regarding this. Once we are happy with your Census file we will approve it and send it to the DfE to authorise. If there is a problem with the data, the DfE will not approve the file and we will be in touch.

Post Approval Checking

NCC will continue to run checks on the Census data and may still get in touch with you with queries even after the DfE have approved your file.

Guidance

Further guidance on submitting your school Census can be found at Norfolk Schools website or on the DfE website at www.gov.uk/guidance/school-census