Welcome to our latest news…
-
School Workforce Census:
Key Dates for the School Workforce Census
Routines | Statutory Returns | School Workforce Census
- Census date: 07/11/2019
- Absence collected from 01/09/2018 to 31/08/2019
- Continuous contracts collected from 01/09/2018 to 07/11/2019
Routines | Statutory Returns | School Workforce Census
It has been brought to our attention that the DfE has added validation query 6260Q. This query checks whether a school has at least one member of staff with a qualification subject of ‘SEN – SENCO – Z201’. We assume that where schools have checked and no member of staff has this qualification, the school just needs to add a note on COLLECT.
New Vacancy Post
Routines | Statutory Returns | School Workforce Census
- The post name ‘(APP) – Apprentice Teacher’ is now available for selection from the Vacancies on Census Day
Changes to Staff SWR Posts
| Staff SWC Posts – Code | Staff Category | Status |
| Apprentice Teacher (APP) | Contracted teacher | Active (New) |
| Leadership Non-Teaching (LNT) | Contracted other support staff | Active (New) |
| Other Support Staff (OSP) | Contracted other support staff | Active (New) |
| Support Staff (SUP) | Contracted other support staff | Inactive |
The Support Staff (SUP) code has been made inactive but will still be collected and then converted to Other Support Staff (OSP) in the return. This does not apply to Teaching Assistants or Higher Level Teaching Assistants. They should still have a staff SWC post of Teaching Assistants.
The following data items are not required if the staff SWC post is Other Support Staff (OSP):
- Qualification code
- Subject code
- Category of Additional Payment
Validation errors 4228 and 4410
If you are getting these validation errors for support staff, you can either amend them manually, or have patch 25307 applied. If you need any further advice please contact us.
School Workforce Census Filenames
To comply with the DfE requirements, SWC has been removed from the School Workforce Census filenames and replaced with SWF, e.g. 999XXXX_SWF_823LL19_001_Basic_Details.XML.
The filenames affected by this change are the .una, .xml and .int files, as well as all reports (including the validations error summary).
NJC Pay scales
For those schools who have not yet amended the pay scales, please click on the below link for guidance notes on how to amend. (Please note that this is only an example for illustration purposes, we advise you to check with your Local Authority/MAT for the correct pay scales for your particular school).
How to add new Pay Scales for NJC 2019
-
SIMS Learning Gateway
Capita are looking to retire this product and for those schools that use it, please be advised that the following are available as alternatives:
- Teacher App – https://www.capita-sims.co.uk/products-and-services/sims-teacher-app
- Parent App – https://www.capita-sims.co.uk/products-and-services/sims-parent-app
- Student App (for secondary schools) – https://www.capita-sims.co.uk/resources/videos/sim-parent-and-student-apps
- Hosted SIMS – https://www.capita-sims.co.uk/products-and-services/hosted-sims
Photographs in SIMS
We have received a large number of queries asking for assistance with this, to be able to bulk import photographs, schools require a licence from Capita, details of which can be found here: https://www.capita-sims.co.uk/order-photo-licence
Helpsheet PM16 Importing Photographs
Once you have obtained your licence, photographs can be imported as detailed in the above guidance.
Training and Events
Reminder: When booking training, please remember to include your mobile number so we can contact you if courses are cancelled at short notice due to weather conditions etc.
FREE Best Practice in SIMS Seminars…
- Cheadle – 19th November (Cheadle House Hotel, Royal Crescent, Cheadle, SK8 3FS)
- Harrow – 26th November (Whitefriars Community School, Whitefriars Avenue, Harrow, HA3 5RQ)
- Essex – TBC Jan 2020, register your interest
- Leeds – TBC March 2020 annual conference, register your interest
Industry Events
Which events are you planning to visit? If you let us know which events you’re planning to be at we’ll do our best to be there too! Please e-mail: marketing@schoolicts.co.uk to let us know.
Schools and Academies Show 2019
School ICT will be attending this years Schools and Academies Show on the 13th and 14th November at the Birmingham NEC, come along to stand G11 to say hi if you’re there! For further information visit: https://schoolsandacademiesshowbirmingham.co.uk/
Additional useful information
Did you know we can help with your recruitment needs?
- School Administrators
- Receptionists
- Bursars
- Business Managers
- Data / SIMS Administrators / Managers
- Exams Officers
- ICT Technical Staff
Visit: http://www.schoolictresourcing.co.uk or call Holly on 0345 222 6802 – option 5 for further information
We are hiring!
Feedback
If you like what we do we’d really appreciate it if you could spare a moment to give us a Google or Facebook review! If you’re not sure how you can do this please e-mail: marketing@schoolicts.co.uk and we can explain how. Additionally, if you’d be happy to act as a case-study reference for us, please contact: louisa.knighton@schoolicts.co.uk.
Other news…
Welcome to our new starters…
We’ve recently welcomed Mitchell Rainbow and Scott Lowrie to the School ICT team.
With Ryans promotion from Apprentice to IT Technician, Mitchell joined the team last month as an Apprentice IT Engineer.
Scott has joined us as an IT Technician, having worked in a variety of helpdesk roles, including Primary ICT, Scott brings with him a wealth of technical and school based/SIMS knowledge.
