May 2022 News Blog Post

Please be advised that the DfE have updated ‘Addendum’ to show that schools are no longer advised to record pupils who are not attending school for reasons related to coronavirus using Code X (not attending in circumstances related coronavirus).

Full guidance can be found via the following link: – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-attendance#full-publication-update-history

The new rates and formula document for 22/23 recently published shows the funding rates for students based on the planned hours in their study programme.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/funding-rates-and-formula

We would draw your attention to footnote 7. We expect that full-time study programmes for 16- and 17-year-olds will be on average 640 planned hours per academic year, and we set the funding rate on this basis. For funding purposes, the minimum threshold for 16- and 17-year year-olds’ full- time programmes is set at 580 planned hours. We fund band 1, the smallest part-time band, on full time equivalents (FTEs). We calculate FTEs as the total planned hours for the student as a proportion of 640 hours.

The guidance indicates an ESFA (Education and Skills Funding Agency) expectation of an average increase of 40 hours in comparison to academic year 2020 to 2021. An explanation as to why and details of any alternative support will be needed to explain how you are meeting the needs of learners for audit purposes.

Further guidance on completing the school census can be found at Complete the school census – Guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Arbor Development Map

Did you know? – Arbor have a Development Map, this is a great area to submit your product feedback but also see what Arbor are working on next based on customer feedback!

https://portal.productboard.com/arbor-education/1-arbor-development-roadmap/tabs/9-done-already-live-in-arbor

Arbor Wraparound Care – Voucher Payments

Voucher payments

Top up Customer Account Types used by Wraparound Care Clubs using vouchers, manage which guardians can sign up using the voucher balance and then reconcile vouchers as a separate payment type.

See how to switch over and get started here: Making and managing payments for Wraparound Care using vouchers

Arbor – MAT Group MIS – Attendance Analysis update

Attendance thresholds

Attendance thresholds allow you to set expectations for attendance for different student groups on your MAT MIS. Add an Expectation level (and an Exceeding Expectation level) to be shown when you drill down into your Whole School Attendance data. You can see how to upgrade and start using this feature here: Attendance Threshold analysis on the MAT MIS

Arbor – MAT Group Permissions

When a business role is applied to staff member on the MAT site, and they use the ‘Login to MIS’ feature from the MAT site it will automatically map their permissions from the business role they are linked to in the MAT and apply these to the school site.

The best way for the Trust staff to work around this is to create a user profile on the school sites and assign the role and permissions needed, then use the login.arbor.sc page. When the user applies their email address and password the school will appear in the drop-down. They can use the same email address as the MAT site.

Arbor – Attendance Statistics Report – saved filters

Did you know that you can now save filter for reports you have created in Arbor’s Attendance Statistics report?

Students/Attendance/Statistics

(Please click on image to enlarge).

Please follow the appropriate links for guidance in the following areas: –

Preparation guidance: – https://support.arbor-education.com/hc/en-us/articles/360019450358-New-School-Year-Setup-Preparation-Checklist

Primary and Nursery guidance: – https://support.arbor-education.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005455573-New-School-Year-Setup-Guide-for-Primaries-and-Primary-Specials

Webinar recordings for further guidance can be found via the following links: –

• Primary – Steps 1-5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo59_1WZ0iY
• Secondary steps 1-5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScGV1roWxTM

Further training is available for steps 6-8 please register using the link below:-

https://support.arbor-education.com/hc/en-us/articles/360004772413-Upcoming-Webinars#spring-census-0-7

As this has been reintroduced this academic year, we thought a reminder on how to prepare for setting up for reporting on test scores and submitting data would be useful.

SIMS Documentation is available on the Customer portal to assist with this process and we will also be running a course on 23^rd May 2022 covering: –

• Learning to import Key Stage wizards
• How to set up the wizards with appropriate pupils
• Learning to use the various marksheets available to record the teacher assessments (TAs) and test results
• Discovering additional features on these marksheets
• How to produce standard Key Stage reports for parents
• How to export the results and upload reports to the document server so they are easily available to view within SIMS

To book a place please visit: https://www.schoolicts.co.uk/events/key-stage-entry-online/?occurrence=2022-05-23&time=1653298200

Arbor Key stage returns

Go to Students > Assessments > DfE Assessments.

• If the template has already been added, you’ll see it under the academic year drop-down menu.
• If it hasn’t yet been added, click the green Load Assessment Template button in the top-right of the page.

Full guidance can be found here: –

https://support.arbor-education.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003949245-Setting-up-and-inputting-marks-into-End-of-Key-Stage-1-and-2-standardised-assessments#when-should-we-set-up-our-assessments–0-0

We are currently recruiting for four internal roles: –

• MIS Support Officer
• MIS Support Apprentice
• Internal Sales Executive x 2

For further information on all of the above roles, please visit: – https://www.schoolicts.co.uk/vacancies/ where you will find full job descriptions, further information on how to apply and the packages on offer.

We are always keen to meet energetic and talented professionals who would like to join our team!

If you wish to be considered for any future positions, please send your CV and covering letter to: info@schoolicts.co.uk

Information on all our Online Training Courses can be found, and booked, through the School ICT website: https://www.schoolicts.co.uk/online-training/

Upcoming Courses: –

• Extended Reporting – 12^th May 2022 – 1 full day
• Primary Summer Census – 16^th May 2022 – half day AM
• Key Stage Entry Explained – 23^rd May 2022
• Managing Student Classes and Timetables – 24^th May 2022
• Preparing for a New School Year – Primary – 25^th May 2022
• Preparing for a New School Year Secondary – 8^th June 2022
• Secondary New Office User – 9^th June 2022

Book your place via: https://www.schoolicts.co.uk/online-training/ or for further information please contact: helpdesk@schoolicts.co.uk.

We also have a growing number of Distance Learning Courses available, please click on the link below to see the full range of courses on offer: –

https://learning.schoolicts.co.uk/