State-funded schools must submit a Headteacher authorised return to COLLECT by:

Tuesday 6 October 2026: Maintained schools & PRU deadline for submission to the Local Authority for validation.

Wednesday 28 October 2026: Maintained schools & PRU deadline for submission to be approved by the Local Authority.

Wednesday 28 October 2026: Academies and free schools deadline for validated and approved submission directly by the Department for Education (DfE).

Note: Following approval and final DfE checks, all state-funded school submissions must receive a final DfE ‘authorised’ status.

The autumn school census will be used for funding allocations.

There should be a Headteacher sign-off process within each school. Schools should use their school MIS reports to quality check the data before submission. Once submitted to COLLECT, to ensure that funding allocations are calculated correctly, schools should run the COLLECT funding reports and check for accuracy.

Local authority guidance

Department for Education (DfE) guidance

Schools should contact their management information systems (MIS) support provider for specific guidance about producing the XML return.

Here are links to SIMS, Arbor, and Bromcom MIS guidance.

The deadline for maintained schools and PRU to submit a return to the local authority via COLLECT is Tuesday 10th November 2026.

Academies and Free schools must submit returns directly to the Department for Education (DfE) using COLLECT by DfE timescales.

School Workforce Census is an annual return and is the primary source of data on school staff that the Department for Education (DfE) uses to inform policy on pay and the monitoring of the effectiveness and diversity of the school workforce.

Local authority guidance 

The Department for Education (DfE)

• School employed staff: guide is here
• COLLECT guide for schools is here

Note: Although the linked DfE guidance documents were last updated in 2025 and 2023 respectively, the information remains valid for the 2026 School Workforce Census as no relevant changes have been made.

Schools should contact their management information systems (MIS) support provider for specific guidance about producing the XML return.

Here are links to SIMS handbook and Arbor’s support webpage and ScholarPack's webpage.

State-funded schools must submit a Headteacher authorised return to COLLECT by:

TBC: Maintained schools & PRU deadline for submission to the Local Authority for validation.

TBC: Maintained schools & PRU deadline for submission to be approved by the Local Authority.

TBC: Academies and free schools deadline for validated and approved submission directly by the Department for Education (DfE).

Note: Following approval and final DfE checks, all state-funded school submissions must receive a final DfE ‘authorised’ status.

The spring school census will be used for funding allocations.

There should be a Headteacher sign-off process within each school. Schools should use their school MIS reports to quality check the data before submission. Once submitted to COLLECT, to ensure that funding allocations are calculated correctly, schools should run the COLLECT funding reports and check for accuracy.

Local authority guidance TBC

Department for Education (DfE) guidance

Schools should contact their management information systems (MIS) support provider for specific guidance about producing the XML return.

Here are links to SIMS, Arbor and Bromcom MIS guidance.

State-funded schools must submit a Headteacher authorised return to COLLECT by:

TBC: Maintained schools & PRU deadline for submission to the Local Authority for validation.

TBC: Maintained schools & PRU deadline for submission to be approved by the Local Authority.

TBC: Academies and free schools deadline for validated and approved submission directly by the Department for Education (DfE).

Note: Following approval and final DfE checks, all state-funded school submissions must receive a final DfE ‘authorised’ status.

There should be a Headteacher sign-off process within each school. Schools should use their school MIS reports to quality check the data before submission. Once submitted to COLLECT, to ensure that funding allocations are calculated correctly, schools should run the COLLECT funding reports and check for accuracy.

Local authority guidance TBC.

Department for Education (DfE) guidance

Schools should contact their management information systems (MIS) support provider for specific guidance about producing the XML return.

Here are links to SIMS, Arbor and Bromcom MIS guidance.

Multiplication tables check (MTC): 2027 Administration period

Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 7 June 2027.

Standards and Testing Agency (STA) MTC guidance

Key stage 2 assessment and reporting arrangements

Support: 

• visit the Standard and Testing Agency (STA) MTC help centre
• use the STA virtual assistant
• contact the STA directly

If you are still unable to find an answer to your question, you can contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013, selecting the option for MTC.

Phonics Screening Check 2027: Submission deadline

Monday 14 June 2027 to Friday 18 June 2027: Schools administer the phonics screening check.

Monday 21 June 2027 to Friday 25 June 2027 (TBC): Timetable variation week for pupils who were absent for the phonics screening check.

TBC: Deadline for state-funded schools Year 1 and Year 2 re-check results to be submitted to the Local Authority. (edu.performance@walthamforest.gov.uk) securely via Mimecast. 

2027 Local Authority Guidance (TBC)

Phonics screening check: assessment and reporting arrangements (ARA)

STA phonics screening check administration guidance 

Schools should contact their management information systems (MIS) support provider for specific guidance about producing the XML return.

Support links: Capita SIMS, and Arbor.

Monday 17 May: ‘Submit TA data’ form is available on National Curriculum Assessments Portal (NCA Portal).

TBC: Deadline for schools to submit KS2 TA data directly on the National Curriculum Assessments Portal (NCA Portal). 

Note: Schools must not submit their data until the external moderation visit has taken place, if they were selected.

STA Key stage 2: submitting teacher assessment data guidance 

Key stage 2 assessment and reporting arrangements

Schools should contact their management information systems (MIS) support provider for specific guidance about producing the XML return.

Support links: Capita SIMS, and Arbor.  

The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) must be completed in the final term of the academic year in which a child reaches age 5 (usually the reception year), and no later than 30 June, except where “exceptional circumstances“ or exemptions apply (see below).

In “exceptional circumstances”, where it has been agreed with the child’s parents and/or carers that the child will remain in EYFS provision beyond the end of the academic year in which they reach age 5, the Profile should be completed once only, before the child moves into Year 1. The intention to defer the child’s statutory assessment should be discussed with the Local Authority (earlyyears@walthamforest.gov.uk). This will ensure the child’s data is not considered missing when the school submits Profile outcomes for the current cohort.

Separate exemptions from the EYFS learning and development requirements and assessment arrangements may also apply in certain circumstances.

The Profile must be completed for all children (as indicated above), including those with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).

Each child’s level of development must be assessed against the early learning goals. Practitioners must note whether children are meeting expected levels of development (“expected”), or if they are not yet reaching expected levels (“emerging”).

State-funded schools are required to submit EYFS Profile data to the Local Authority securely via Mimecast to edu.performance@walthamforest.gov.uk.

Specific guidance for private, voluntary & independent settings (PVIs) with children in receipt of government funding in the summer term can be found here.

2027 Local Authority Guidance (TBC)

Early years foundation stage profile handbook (DfE)

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework

Schools should contact their management information systems (MIS) support provider for specific guidance about producing the XML return.

Support links: Capita SIMS, and Arbor.