The deadline for maintained schools and PRU to submit a return to the local authority via COLLECT is Tuesday 10 October 2023.

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

School Census is a termly return from all state-funded primary, secondary, special and PRUs.

Note: Early Years funded entitlement hours: Waltham Forest LA Early Years Team is using the funded entitlement hours information submitted to the Early Years Provider Portal in the Autumn 2023 Term for indicative funding purposes. It is essential that all early years funded entitlement hours data recorded in the school management information system (MIS) submitted in the School Census Autumn 2023 return is accurate and reflects the data posted to the Early Years Provider Portal. 

The DfE uses the data from the return to inform school budgets. It is therefore essential that it is accurate. Schools should use MIS reports and the Census Summary to quality check their data before submission. There should be a Headteacher sign-off process within each school.

Local authority guidance is here.

DfE guidance is here.

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

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

The deadline for maintained schools and PRU to submit a return to the local authority via COLLECT is Tuesday 7 November 2023

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

School Workforce Census is an annual return from all state-funded primary, secondary, special and PRUs. Academies and Free schools submit a return directly to the Department for Education (DfE) for approval and authorisation.

The School Workforce Census 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

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

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

The Early Years Census is a statutory census that takes place every January and is required from any Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) setting where one or more of their children (aged 2, 3 and 4 years as at 31/12/2023) are receiving early education during census week that is funded by the Department for Education (DfE).

Information for the return will be collected from data recorded by providers of free early education in the private, voluntary and independent sectors to Waltham Forest’s Early Years Providers Portal.

Providers of free early education in the private, voluntary and independent sectors, including childminders, must ensure child data is accurately maintained on Waltham Forest’s Early Years Provider Portal to reflect funded 2, 3 and 4-year-old children receiving free early education in their setting during census week.

The deadline to complete the online DFE EY Census 2024 Provider Data Form on Waltham Forest’s Early Years Provider Portal is Friday 26 January 2024. This will provide additional staffing and establishment information required for the statutory return.

Any setting that has no children aged 2, 3 or 4 receiving funded early education during census week should not make an Early Years Census (EYC) return. 

This census does not cover local authority maintained nursery or nursery classes in maintained schools and academies that are included as part of the School Census. 

Local authority guidance to support Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) settings, including childminders, is on the Early Years Provider Portal users guide page.

The deadline for maintained schools and PRU to submit a return to the local authority via COLLECT is Tuesday 23 January 2024. 

Academies and Free schools submit returns directly to the Department for Education (DfE) using COLLECT by DfE timescales and ensure that the return is “Authorised” by the DfE.

School Census is a termly return from all state-funded primary, secondary, special and PRUs. The DfE uses the data from the return to inform school budgets.

The DfE uses the data from the return to allocate funding. It is therefore essential that it is accurate. For relevant schools, all Early Years funded hours (& extended hours where appropriate) recorded in the school management information system (MIS) must reconcile with information posted to the Early Years Provider Portal.

Schools should use MIS reports and the Census Summary to quality check their data before submission. There should be a headteacher sign-off process within each school.

Local authority guidance is here. 

DfE guidance is available here.

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

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

The deadline for maintained schools and PRU to submit a return to the local authority via COLLECT is Tuesday 21 May 2024.

Academies and Free schools submit returns directly to the Department for Education (DfE) using COLLECT by DfE timescales and ensure that the return is “Authorised” by the DfE.

School Census is a termly return from all state-funded nurseries, primary, secondary, special and PRUs. It is essential that the statutory return is accurate. 

Schools should use management information system (MIS) School Census Summary report(s) and DfE COLLECT reports to quality assure and check their data before submission. 

There should be a Headteacher sign-off process within each school.

Local authority guidance is here.   

DfE guidance is available here.

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

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

In 2024, schools must administer the MTC to all eligible year 4 pupils between Monday 3 June and Friday 14 June.

Schools can use the following week, Monday 17 June to Friday 21 June, to administer the check to any pupils who were absent during the first 2 weeks or in case of any delays to the administration of the check due to technical difficulties.

Schools must provide a reason within the MTC service for any pupils who are not able to participate in the check.

Schools can access the MTC service to prepare for the check via DfE Sign-in from Monday 8 April.

Standards and Testing Agency (STA) guidance.

Support: For queries regarding the MTC, contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or email assessments@education.gov.uk.

Phonics Screening Check 2024: Submission deadline

Monday 10 June 2024 – Friday 14 June 2024: Year 1 and Year 2 re-check: Check week

Monday 17 June 2024 – Friday 21 June 2024: Timetable variation week for pupils who were absent for the phonics screening check week.

25 June 2024: 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. See the Local Authority guidance (Appendix B) below for more information regarding the use of Mimecast.

2024 Local Authority Guidance

2024 STA key stage 1 assessment and reporting arrangements

2024 STA phonics screening check administration guidance

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

Support links: Capita SIMS, Arbor and ScholarPack.    

Following the  2017 consultation on primary assessment, the Department for Education (DfE) announced in July 2022 that end of KS1 assessments will no longer be statutory from the academic year 2023 to 2024 onwards. This took effect from 1 September 2023.

The following KS1 assessments are now optional:

• teacher assessment judgements in English reading, English writing, mathematics and science
• tests in English reading and mathematics (the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test will also remain optional)
• where relevant, using the pre-key stage standards or engagement model

There is no legal requirement for schools or local authorities to report KS1 teacher assessment data back to the DfE and the DfE will not ask them to do so. There is also no requirement to report results from end of KS1 assessments to parents. As with other years in which there are no statutory assessments, there will still be a requirement for Headteachers to provide an annual report to parents or carers about a pupil’s general progress in year two.

2024 optional key stage 1 tests DfE guidance 

Key stage 1 non-statutory teacher assessment DfE guidance

More DfE guidance is here.

Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) 2024: Submission deadline

Deadline for state-funded schools and early years settings to submit statutory EYFSP assessments for funded children Deadline for state-funded schools and early years settings to submit statutory EYFSP assessments for funded children to the Local Authority (edu.performance@walthamforest.gov.uk) securely via Mimecast. See the Local Authority guidance (Appendix B) below for more information regarding the use of Mimecast. 

2024 Local Authority Guidance

2024 Early years foundation stage profile handbook 

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework

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

Support links: Capita SIMS, Arbor and ScholarPack.    

Monday 20 May 2024: The ‘Submit teacher assessment’ form is available on the Primary Assessment Gateway (PAG).

Friday 28 June 2024: Deadline for maintained schools, academies (including free schools), special schools and participating independent schools to submit TA data for all pupils at the end of KS2 directly to the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) via the Primary Assessment Gateway (PAG).

Schools must:

• not submit their data until after the external moderation visit has taken place (if selected)
• only re-submit where you have previously successfully submitted data after Friday 28 June 2024 when required to do so by the STA.

2024 STA Key stage 2 teacher assessment guidance 

2024 STA Key stage 2: submitting teacher assessment data guidance

2024 Key stage 2 assessment and reporting arrangements

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

Support links: Capita SIMS, Arbor and ScholarPack.