The deadline for maintained schools and PRU to submit a return to the local authority via COLLECT is Tuesday 8 October 2024.

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

COLLECT familiarisation test period (Optional): W/c 9 September, a ‘beta’ release is available for testing purposes via COLLECT, and remains available until 4pm on Friday 27 September, at which point the test area will be removed and cleared out in advance of the ‘live’ collection on Thursday 3 October. 

The DfE strongly recommends, if possible, all schools use the period to upload a ‘test’ census XML return to COLLECT to check all required data is output correctly; and find out about any COLLECT validation errors or queries that can be resolved before the collection goes ‘live’.

The autumn school census will be used to fund the schools block of the dedicated schools grant and the pupil premium. It is therefore essential that it is accurate.

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 CTF/XML return.

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

The deadline for maintained schools and PRU to submit a return to the local authority via COLLECT is TBC.

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 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 (TBC)

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) settings, including childminders, with children funded by the Department for Education (DfE) during census week (w/c 13/01/2025).

Information for the return will be collected from:

• Funding data recorded by providers to Waltham Forest’s Early Years Providers Portal; and
• Additional staffing and establishment information collected via the DFE EY Census 2025 Provider Data Form (TBC) on Waltham Forest’s Early Years Provider Portal. The deadline to complete is TBC.

This statutory 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 is TBC.

The deadline for maintained schools and PRU to submit a return to the local authority via COLLECT is TBC. 

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

The DfE uses the data from the return to allocate funding. 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 TBC. 

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 TBC. 

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

It is essential that returns are 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 TBC. 

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.  

Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 2 June 2025.

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.

 Schools must administer the phonics screening check within the 1-week period from Monday 9 June 2025.

TBC: Timetable variation week for pupils who were absent for the phonics screening check week.

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. 

2025 Local Authority Guidance (TBC)

2025 STA key stage 1 assessment and reporting arrangements (ARA)

2025 STA phonics screening check administration guidance (TBC)

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.   

Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) 2025: 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. 

2025 Local Authority Guidance (TBC)

2025 Early years foundation stage profile handbook (TBC) 

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.    

TBC: The ‘Submit teacher assessment’ form is available on the Primary Assessment Gateway (PAG).

TBC: 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 TBC when required to do so by the STA.

2025 STA Key stage 2 teacher assessment guidance (TBC) 

2025 STA Key stage 2: submitting teacher assessment data guidance (TBC)

2025 Key stage 2 assessment and reporting arrangements (TBC)

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.