Autumn Census 2022

Autumn Census webinar 2022

Important Dates

Changes introduced

New - Post looked after arrangements (PLAA)

From Autumn there is an additional option for: 'Ceased to be looked after through adopted from state care outside of England and Wales'. 

New - Alternative Provision (AP) placement module

It is still optional to send AP placements in the Autumn census.

Where neither a URN or UKPRN are available, and the 'AP Setting Type' has been recorded instead, the Companies House number for the setting will need to be entered, as well as the setting's postcode. 

From the next Spring census the AP modules will become mandatory. 

Updated - Termly Exclusions Module

Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions

• Data is required for both on and off roll pupils and should include all suspensions and permanent exclusions with start dates between 1st January and 31st July.

Updated - Termly Attendance Module

Summer Term Attendance

• • The October or Autumn Census is looking at attendance data from summer term until 31st July.

Updated - Learning Funding and Monitoring (FAM)/School Led Tutoring

Applicable to all schools, except nursery, with appropriate year groups or age ranges. For pupils in Year 1 to Year 11 or aged 5 to 15 (as at 31st August). The school is required to identify those pupils in receipt of School Led Tutoring within the current academic year and the number of hours tuition received to date. Any pupil who has not yet started their tutoring is not expected to be recorded as receiving tutoring.

Completing the Autumn Census in ScholarPack

Introduction

The Autumn School Census looks at all pupils on the school register on census day, and all pupils with exclusions start dates between 1st January and 31st July (on and off roll students, with suspensions and permanent exclusions), as well as attendance data for last term (for on and off roll students).

It is required for:

• maintained nursery
• primary
• middle-deemed primary
• middle-deemed secondary
• secondary
• all-through
• special schools (including non-maintained special schools)
• pupil referral units / alternative provision (PRU / AP)
• academies (including free schools, university technical colleges (UTCs) and studio schools)
• city technology colleges (CTCs)

Registered independent schools, alternative provision and early years settings (private, voluntary and independent) do not participate in the school census.

What data will be used from the Autumn Census for funding purposes?

1. Where to find Census in ScholarPack?

The census module can be found in Admin > Census > Autumn Census

The table that appears in the census area provides links to editable areas in ScholarPack for required fields. These should be checked to ensure your data is current and complete.  

Click the buttons in the View/Edit column to check your information before calculating your census return.

Each button will take you to the area of ScholarPack where you can view or update your information.  If the notes are in RED no data has been recorded for the required item.

 

2. Census Validation

Check your census for any queries and errors

Once you have worked your way through the buttons in the View/Edit column, ensuring all your data has been entered correctly in each group, you can click the Calculate button on the right side of your screen.

This will take you to a validation page where any queries or errors can be viewed.  Where possible, the query or error will provide a link to take you to the area in ScholarPack where you can resolve the issue.

Data submitted to the DfE should be authorised by the Head of school - please ask them to sign the Census Summary to confirm all the data is correct.

• If your school is supported by Scholarpack directly, click the 'Contact Us' button in the top right of the Help Centre
• If your school uses a Support Partner, please contact them. Click their name in the top right of your Scholarpack above the search box, for their contact details.

3. Generate School Summary

Check your data before submitting

Once you have resolved all of your errors on the validation page, you can click on the button labelled 'Generate ScholarPack Summary'. This will display all data entered into ScholarPack that is ready to be submitted.  The ScholarPack summary differs from the Official summary by giving the option to see which students are behind the figures (via their UPN).

Please thoroughly check the separate tables with a colleague/headteacher to ensure that you are confident with your data before sending the return.

If you wish to print or save this page, please click on Print in the top left of this screen.

When you click Print a pop up box will appear.  You can set the Destination to your office printer, then a blue Print button is available at the base of the page. Or, you can set the destination to Save as PDF, then a blue Save button allows you to create a PDF document for your records. 

4. Download your Census file

Download the final census file

Once you have validated your census return and checked your school summary you can select the Download census file button. This will allow you to download your xml (CTF) file with all necessary information.

You will then need to access COLLECT to upload your completed file. The system that you use to sign into COLLECT has changed and you will now need a DfE sign in to access it. You can log into COLLECT here or create a DfE sign in with a link on the same page. If you need guidance on how to use COLLECT the DfE have produced guides here.

Your school office ought to have the relevant username and password credentials to log in already.

Please note: some local authorities may require schools to submit their census return to the LA before sending to the Collect website. Please check with your local authority.

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This next section will show you what information the DfE will collect and where to specifically update this data in ScholarPack.

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 5. School level data

What school information will be collected?

School level data required for the Autumn census is as follows:

For all school types:

• LA number
• Establishment number
• Unique Reference Number
• School name, address, phase, type
• Highest/lowest national curriculum year
• Intake and governance
• School email
• School phone number

For Special Schools only:

• Maximum day pupils: The maximum number of day pupils for whom the school is approved to make a provision.
• Maximum boarding pupils:  The maximum number of boarding pupils for whom the school is approved to make a provision.
• Minimum age – boys: The minimum age for which the school is approved to make a provision for boys.
• Minimum age – girls: The minimum age for which the school is approved to make a provision for girls.
• Maximum age - boys: The maximum age for which the school is approved to make a provision for boys.
• Maximum age - girls: The maximum age for which the school is approved to make a provision for girls.
• School SEN type: The type of special need for which the school is formally approved to make provision.

Updating school level data in ScholarPack

Your school level data can be added and updated in ScholarPack by clicking on Admin > Config > Core set up > School.  If you need to make any amendments, click on the 'Edit' button at the top of the screen.

6. Pupil level data

What pupil information will be collected?

Click here for DfE guidance on all pupil level data required for the Census.

For the Autumn Census the school is requested to record the number of UFSM meals taken on census day. 

This is a manual entry to be entered in Admin > Census > Autumn Census > School Lunch Taken for years R, 1, and 2.

Once selected you will be presented with a list of all those students in years Reception to Year 2. Once you have taken the register in ScholarPack on census day then the attendance code for each student will be displayed together with any meal choice if using our meals module.  You can then choose to pre-populate the School Lunch taken column with those students who were marked as present for the AM session (/) or late before register closed (L). Remove meals for those who usually have a home packed lunch.

Many data items required for the school census can be entered in bulk via Group Updater.

If a student does not have a UPN you can allocate one in their extended tab, which will normally stay with them thereafter. A temporary UPN can be allocated when a student may already have a UPN but you do not yet have it on file.  

A student aged 14 or older must also have a ULN. The ULN is a unique 10-digit number, and most learners aged 14+ have one. It is designed to work with your PLR (Personal Learning Record), helping to give you proof of your learning and achievements from the age of 16 onwards. These are allocated by the Learning Records Service.

7. Attendance

Check for termly attendance.

Attendance data is provided for any pupils aged 4 to 15 years as at 31st August who were on roll for one or more session(s) during the term for which data is collected.  This may include pupils who have left the school prior to census day.

The Autumn census looks at attendance data from last term.    

Attendance data will include categories of school attendance, rather than just those that equate to authorised and unauthorised absence.  

The census gathers the number of sessions possible per student, and where there are absences, the reason(s) for absence and the number of sessions lost for that reason.

One or more attendance codes need to be marked against each student along with the number of sessions. Schools are not required to provide the number of sessions missed due to authorised absence, unauthorised absence, exceptional circumstances, not attending in circumstances relating to coronavirus or those attending an approved educational activity.

The attendance codes returned for the census include categories of school attendance, rather than just those that equate to authorised and unauthorised absence.

Here are the  full range of attendance codes – contained in codeset CS066 of the CBDS.

CS066	Pupil Attendance Codes
/	Present (AM)
\	Present (PM)
B	Approved education activity as pupil being educated off site (not dual registration)
C	Authorised absence as pupil is absent due to other authorised circumstances
D	Dual registered (at another establishment) - not counted in possible attendances
E	Authorised absence as pupil is excluded, with no alternative provision made
G	Unauthorised absence as pupil is on a family holiday, not agreed, or is taking days in excess of an agreed family holiday
H	Authorised absence due to agreed family holiday
I	Authorised absence due to Illness (NOT medical or dental etc. appointments)
J	Approved education activity as pupil is attending interview
L	Late (before registers closed) marked as present
M	Authorised absence due to medical/ dental appointments
N	Unauthorised absence as pupil missed sessions for a reason that has not yet been provided
O	Unauthorised absence as pupil missed sessions for an unauthorised absence not covered by any other code/description
P	Approved education activity as pupil is attending an approved sporting activity
R	Authorised absence due to religious observance
S	Authorised absence due to study leave
T	Authorised absence due to traveller absence
U	Unauthorised absence as pupil arrived after registers closed
V	Approved education activity as pupil is away on an educational visit or trip
W	Approved education activity as pupil is attending work experience
X	Non-compulsory school age absence - not counted in possible attendances or Not attending in circumstances related to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Y	Unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances - not counted in possible attendances
Z	Pupil not yet on roll - not counted in possible attendances **
#	Planned whole or partial school closure - not counted in possible attendances **

 

The following attendance codes are used for monitoring attendance in systems but are not counted as part of national attendance statistics.

• Attendance code ‘Y’: Unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances – not counted in possible attendances. Whilst this code is included in the census collection it is not included in possible sessions and is excluded from counts of absences and not included in national attendance statistics

• Attendance code ‘D’: Dual registered (at another educational establishment) – not counted in possible attendances. This code is used for monitoring attendance in systems. Whilst this code is included in the census collection it is not included in possible sessions or absence figures

• Attendance code ‘X’:
a) Non-compulsory school age absence – not counted in possible attendances. This code is used to record sessions that noncompulsory school age children are not expected to attend.
b) Not attending in circumstances related to coronavirus (COVID-19) – not counted in possible attendances. This category must only be used to record sessions that take place in this academic year where a pupil does not attend because their travel to, or attendance at, school would be:
i. contrary to guidance relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) from Public Health England (PHE) and/or the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC)
ii. prohibited by any legislation (or instruments such as statutory directions) relating to the incidence or transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) Full information can be found in the school attendance guidance.

• Attendance Code ‘#’: Planned whole or partial school closure – not counted in possible attendances. This code should be used for planned whole or partial school closures where the dates are known to the school at least a term in advance. This code is not collected in the census.

Dual registered pupils - each school records attendance and absence for the sessions the pupil is required to attend at their setting.  Use the 'D' code where the pupil should be attending the other school.

Zero sessions possible are recorded where a dual registered pupil has all of their previous attendance (term or half term) for which attendance data is collected at the other registration. For example, where a dually registered pupil has all of the attendance at his / her subsidiary registration, the main registration would have zero sessions possible recorded for that period in the census.

For dual registered pupils please check the 'Enrolment Status' is recorded correctly.  The count on census day includes all pupils whose enrolment status is:

  • ‘C’ (current - single registration at this school) [ALL schools]
  • ‘M’ (current main - dual registration) [ALL schools]
  • ‘S’ (current subsidiary - dual registration) [ALL schools]
  • ‘F’ (FE college) where pupil is registered with the PRU / AP but is taught for the majority of their teaching time at the FE college [For: PRU / AP only]
  • ‘O’ (other provider) where pupil is registered with the PRU / AP but is taught for the majority of their teaching time by the other alternative provision provider (which is not a school) [For: PRU / AP only]

Pupils recorded as "Guest' will not be included in your return.

Persistent absenteeism for the Autumn Census is based on a threshold of 10 percent absence from the start of the academic year to the end of the period in question. 

You are able to view an individual pupil's attendance by clicking on the Attendance tab on their personal profile:

To enter and amend pupil attendance information, go to Register > Manage Register.

8. Exclusions

Check for termly exclusions

The Autumn Census is looking at all suspensions and permanent exclusions with start dates in the last two terms. 

A full explanation of exclusions and suspensions as well as the time-frames and reasons can be found over on the DFE census guide here

Pupil exclusions are entered into ScholarPack via the pupil's profile within the Conduct tab.  For suspensions (previously known as fixed period exclusions), each full day counts as two sessions.  

Once periods of suspension and exclusion are entered on the student's conduct tab, a report can be generated by going to Reporting > Reports > Conduct > Exclusions

Attendance and exclusions data is required for pupils who are no longer on roll on census day but fit the above criteria. 

Note: for every E attendance code in the register to record a session a student is suspended, there needs to be an exclusions entry for this date period on the student's conduct tab. 

9. Free School Meals

Check for periods of FSM eligibility

Free school meals eligibility indicates eligibility in England on the grounds of social deprivation and is independent of any universal entitlement or of eligibility in another country.

To minimise the impact of the rollout of universal credit and the introduction of a net earned income threshold to determine eligibility for free school meals, transitional arrangements have been put in place to ensure that no pupil loses a meal as a result of these changes.

Transitional protections should be awarded as follows:
• any claimant who is in receipt of free school meals on 31st March should continue to receive free school meals until the end of the universal credit roll out period, and then until their phase of education ends. This covers until at least Summer 2023, and applies even if their circumstances change and they would no longer meet the eligibility criteria.
• any claimant who gains eligibility for free school meals from 1st April will continue to receive free school meals until the end of the universal credit rollout period, and then until their phase of education ends. This covers until at least Summer 2023, and applies even if their circumstances change and they would no longer meet the eligibility criteria.

For the Autumn Census the relevant periods from which the DfE is collecting periods of eligibility are as follows:

An FSM eligibility Start Date and no FSM Eligibility end date; or,
An FSM eligibility end date since the previous census, and up to including the Autumn census day.

Extension of Temporary Free School Meals Eligibility: Free school meal eligibility has been permanently extended to children from all groups with no recourse to public funds (NRPF), subject to income thresholds available here.

The Early Years Pupil Premium is collected in the Autumn census.

To view your pupil's FSM eligibility periods you can go to Admin > Students > Manage FSM or click on the FSM Eligibility tab in the census area under the View/Edit header.

                        

Universal Infant Free School Meals

Pupils who are only in receipt of a free school lunch due to the infant pupil universal entitlement should not be recorded as FSM as they are not eligible for pupil premium funding.

Infant pupils who are eligible for pupil premium funding due to means testing should be recorded as FSM in the usual way (as above) even though they are eligible for free meals because of their age.

See the attached link for further pupil premium conditions of grant information:

Pupil Premium Conditions of Grant

Adopted from Care details are collected. Please note: Children adopted from care are eligible for the pupil premium (£2345 per pupil).  

This data item can be edited in the child's profile area within the 'Extended' area.

Please choose from the following values:

• Ceased to be looked after through adoption
• Ceased to be looked after through a special guardianship order (SGO)
• Ceased to be looked after through a residence order (RO)
• Ceased to be looked after through a child arrangement order (CAO)
• Ceased to be looked after through adoption from state care outside of England and Wales*

* 'Ceased to be looked after through adoption from state care outside of England and Wales' is a new data item for the Autumn Census.

Service Child indicator - this is now collected at every census. The information is recorded in ScholarPack within the child's profile in the 'Extended' area.

10. SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)

What SEND information is collected?

A SEN Provision can be entered via the student's profile in the Support tab (the SENCO user role/permission is needed to access this resource).  Click onto the white cog next to the SEN header to enter your provision.

• When entering a SEN Provision for SEN Support or Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP), you will also need to have at least a Primary SEN Need associated with that provision.
• When changing a SEN Provision type you will need to end the current provision prior to adding a new one. 

Top up funding - This is a true / false flag to indicate those pupils on roll for whom the school receives, on census day, top-up funding - either from a local authority or, in the case of a PRU / AP, a local authority or another school. This can be recorded in ScholarPack via the child's profile within the 'Extended' tab, under Support Information.

Deadlines

Some local authorities have their own submissions deadlines.

Academies are generally unaffected by LA deadlines but please check with your local data team.