March 2024

26/03/2024 - SIMS - technical - SIMS - latest upgrades

SIMS Spring 2024 upgrade and FMS Spring 2024 upgrade.

22/03/2024 - SIMS - administration - SIMS - attendance and lesson monitor

Document updated:

• dms195-applicants-and-admission-groups-in-sims-mar2024.pdf

21/03/2024 - SIMS - administration - SIMS - attendance and lesson monitor

HCC 10 day absence form updated.

07/03/2024 - DMS - training and events - User groups meetings

Updated User Group slides.

27/02/2024 - SIMS - SIMS School Census

• Updated 16-19 ACT document DMS425

09/02/2024 - SIMS - parental engagement - SIMS InTouch

SIMS InTouch Exam Timetable Alternative Templates updated.

07/02/2024 - SIMS - administration - SIMS - attendance and lesson monitor

Document added to page:

• dms143-pupil-part-time-timetable-notification-feb2024.pdf

01/02/2024 - SIMS - technical - SIMS - Installations and maintenance

Documents updated on page:

• DMS042 SOLUS3 common tasks and troubleshooting guide
• DMS058 Maintaining SQL Servers
• DMS099 Using DbUpgrade for applying patches
• W139 Using the SOLUS3 Notifier to upgrade

30/01/2024 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS - School census

New fileset added to page:

DfE fileset and known issues

• 2605-StatutoryReturns-Autumn2023_Fileset.mfs
• 2605-StatutoryReturns-Autumn2023_Fileset.mfs.signature

25/01/2024 - SIMS - administration - SIMS - attendance and lesson monitor

Documents updated on page:

Documents for download

• dms141-hcc-penalty-notice-application-in-sims-jan2024.pdf
• dms142-fire-drill-report-for-schools-using-attendance-jan2024.pdf
• dms143-pupil-part-time-timetable-notification-jan2024.pdf
• dms144-exceptional-circumstances-in-sims-attendance-jan2024.pdf

DMS created SIMS reports

• hcc-penalty-notice-application-jan2024.RptDef

17/01/2024 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS - School census

Update to DfE fileset and known issues: Fileset 2605 – NOT YET AVAILABLE 

04/01/2024 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS - School census

New documents added to page:

DfE fileset and known issues

• 2604-StatutoryReturns-Autumn2023_Fileset.mfs
• 2604-StatutoryReturns-Autumn2023_Fileset.mfs.signature

20/12/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS- School census

Documents added to page:

DfE fileset and known issues

• 2603-StatutoryReturns-Autumn2023_Fileset.mfs
• 2603-StatutoryReturns-Autumn2023_Fileset.mfs.signature

20/12/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS- School census

New document added to page:

Census documents for download

• dms404-sims-spring-census-2024-all-phases.pdf

18/12/2023 - SIMS - personnel - SIMS - pay related files

Documents updated on page:

NJC main 2023

• sims-payrelatedmain2334915.signature
• sims-payrelatedmain2334915.xml

13/12/2023 - SIMS - administration - SIMS - attendance and lesson monitor

Updated Penalty notice and Lates reports for SIMS Connected schools.

08/12/2023 - SIMS - personnel - SIMS - pay related files

New documents added:

• DMS417 Importing NJC – APT&C Pay Scales into SIMS personnel 2023

NJC main 2023

• sims-payrelated2334110.xml.signature
• sims-payrelated2334110.xml

30/11/2023 - DMS - training and events - User groups meetings

Slide presentation from virtual user group updated.

28/11/2023 - SIMS - technical - SIMS - latest upgrades

SIMS Autumn 2023 Upgrade and FMS Autumn 2023 Upgrade. 

27/11/2023 - SIMS - administration - SIMS Reporting

Document updated on page:

Service Request and ISL Baseline

• herts-cc-service-request-form-nov-2023.RptDef

20/11/2023 - SIMS - personnel - SIMS - pay related files

New document added to page:

• DMS403 maintaining Salary Scales in SIMS Personnel 2023

08/11/2023 - SIMS - assessment - SIMS CAS KS4 Analysis Resources updated

08/11/2023 - SIMS - upgrades SOLUS3 3.12.72 Upgrade Information (updated 07/11/23)

October 2023

26/10/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS - School workforce census

Updates to Fileset for SWC 2023.

25/10/2023 - SIMS - administration - SIMS Reporting

SIMS SPS and Delta reports updated for 2023-24

19/10/2023 - SIMS - administration - SIMS - attendance and lesson monitor

Document updated:

DMS created SIMS reports

• hfl-attendance-vulnerable-groups-oct2023.rptdef

19/10/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS - School workforce census

Updates to documents on page:

Census documents for download

• dms397-school-workforce-census-in-sims-2023.pdf
• dms055-swc-faqs.pdf

18/10/2023 - SIMS - administration - SIMS - attendance and lesson monitor

Updates to text and document on page:

DMS created SIMS reports

HCC 10 day absence reporting form

The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006, Section 12 requires schools to inform the local authority of any pupils who are regularly absent from school, have irregular attendance, or have 10 or more consecutive school days absence without the school's permission. This means school has unauthorised 20 sessions of absence. Schools are also under a safeguarding duty, under section 175 of the Education Act 2002 to investigate any unexplained absences.

There is no way to automatically generate the pupils who meet this criteria in SIMS so schools will need to manually work this out by using reports built in to the Attendance module. Once you know the required pupil(s), this report can be run from their student profile.

• hcc-10-day-absence-reporting-form-oct2023.RptDef

17/10/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS - School workforce census

New document added:

Census documents for download

• dms397-school-workforce-census-2023.pdf

16/10/2023 - SIMS - technical - SIMS - Installations and maintenance

New document added:

SIMS Technical roadmap and hardware specification

• sims-technical-roadmap-oct2023.pdf

10/10/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS - School workforce census

New documents added to page:

Fileset for SWC 2023

• 2505-StatutoryReturns-Summer2023_Fileset.mfs
• 2505-StatutoryReturns-Summer2023_Fileset.mfs.signature

10/10/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS - School census

SIMS Census Known issues and patches updated.

09/10/2023 - SIMS - personnel - SIMS - reports

Document added to page:

Staff absence reports

• hfl-staff-absence-reports-2023.RptDef

05/10/2023 - SIMS - technical  - SIMS - latest upgrades

FMS upgrade.

05/10/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS- School census

Updates to DfE fileset and known issues:

Fileset 2505:

• 2505-StatutoryReturns-Summer2023_Fileset.mfs
• 2505-StatutoryReturns-Summer2023_Fileset.mfs.signature

Fileset 2504 should be regarded as the minimum fileset for finalised a School Census Autumn 2023 return file. However, fileset 2505 is a 'must have' for schools with sixth forms. It’s import will be of no harm nor benefit to other schools that have already imported Fileset 2504, except where they have multiple open alternative provision placements for a pupil (see error 2392 below).

Fileset 2505:

Fileset 2505 resolves the following errors (compared to fileset 2504):

Validation Error 2392: Pupil has multiple open placements where the attendance pattern is not a valid combination. It is expected the pupil would be PT at each open placement. This fix will ease confusion for schools with multiple open alternative provisions placements for a pupil.

Validation Error 2759: Traineeship must not be present for learning aims which started after 31 July of the current year. This fix is a 'must have' for schools with sixth forms.

Validation Error 2912: Traineeship must not be present for programme aims which started after 31 July of the current year. This fix is a 'must have' for schools with sixth forms.

Validation Error 5165: Traineeship is missing or invalid for learning aims that started prior 1 August 2023. This fix will ease confusion for schools with sixth forms.

Validation Error 5166: Traineeship cannot be true for a T Level or T Level transition programme which started prior to 1 August 2023. This fix will ease confusion for schools with sixth forms.

Fileset 2504:

Fileset 2504 resolved the following issues which are now included in fileset 2505 (therefore if using fileset 2503 and have these errors you must now import 2505): 

• Errors 2492, 2392 and 3125
• Correct the heading for Table 14 of the DfE summary report

Patches:

Schools should also ensure that CDP2 (Consolidated Database Patch 2) for the SIMS Summer Release 2023 (database patch no. 28383) is installed . This can be checked from within the school census page Routines > Statutory Returns the top of the page will display the fileset and patch information. 

Once minimum fileset version 2503 and CDP2 (28383) have been installed the census return will include all permanent exclusions with a final review date before census date. This is a late change from the DfE.

CDP3 (Consolidated Database Patch 3):

The populate from exams routine in Tools > Statutory Returns Tools > Update Post-16 Prior Attainment is operating as intended in that it is not attempting to calculate whether attainment was achieved by end of year 11 when an 'external exam' is involved. However, ESS are investigating a case where the data was manually entered for the previous year and is not being 'pulled through' for the current year. ESS’ initial investigation suggests that a consolidated database patch (CDP 3) will be needed to resolve this issue. We will update this once this is available.

04/10/2023 -  SIMS - data returns  - SIMS - School workforce census

New document added to page:

Fileset for SWC 2023

• 2504-StatutoryReturns-Summer2023_Fileset.mfs 
• 2504-StatutoryReturns-Summer2023_Fileset.mfs.signature

DfE documents

• school-workforce-census-guide-2023.pdf

HfL created SIMS census reports

• swc-reports-2023.RptDef

02/10/2023 - SIMS - data returns  - SIMS - EYFS Attainment on entry/exit

Updates to SIMS – EYFS Attainment on entry

29/09/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS- School census

SIMS Census known issues and Filesets updated.

26/09/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS- School census

New Fileset added:

Fileset 2504:

• 2504-StatutoryReturns-Summer2023_Fileset.mfs
• 2504-StatutoryReturns-Summer2023_Fileset.mfs.signature

Fileset 2503 should be regarded as the minimum fileset for finalised a School Census Autumn 2023 return file.

Fileset 2504:

Fileset 2504 will resolve the following issues: 

• Errors 2492 and 3125
• Corrects the heading for Table 14 of the DfE summary report

25/09/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS- School census

Census known issues updated.

21/09/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS- School census

New documents and information added:

DfE fileset and known issues

Fileset 2503:

• 2503-StatutoryReturns-Summer2023_Fileset.mfs
• 2503-StatutoryReturns-Summer2023_Fileset.mfs.signature

Fileset 2503 should be regarded as the minimum fileset for finalised a School Census Autumn 2023 return file.

Fileset 2504:

DMS are expecting fileset 2504 which will resolve the following issues: 

• The DfE has added validation error 2492 to check for this misuse of Attendance Code 'X'. However, the DfE's first attempt at coding this new validation in their baseline validation file is flawed in that it will trigger where 'X' has been used for pupils aged 16 or above on the preceding 31st August of the term being reported. The DfE will also be correcting validation error 2492 on DfE COLLECT
• 2504 will correct flaws in DfE validation errors 2492 and 3125
• 2504 will correct the heading for Table 14 of the DfE summary report

Schools should also ensure that CDP2 (Consolidated Database Patch 2) for the SIMS Summer Release 2023 (database patch 28383) is installed . This can be checked from within the school census page Routines> Statutory Returns the top of the page will display the fileset and patch information. 

Once fileset 2503 and CDP2 (28383) have been installed the census return will include all permanent exclusions with a final review date before census date. This is a late change from the DfE.

18/09/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS- School census

New document added:

Census documents for download

• dms390-post16-autumn-2023-in-sims.pdf

15/09/2023 - SIMS - data returns - SIMS- School census

Documents on page updated:

Census documents for download

• dms383-school-census-autumn-2023.pdf

HFL created SIMS census reports

• school-census-pre-check-report-dec19.rptdef

14/09/2023 - SIMS - technical - SIMS - latest upgrades

Consolidated Database Patch 2 for Summer Release 2023 Statutory Returns

ESS have now released Consolidated Database Patch 2 for Summer Release 2023 Statutory Returns (28383). The patch is required for School Workforce Census 2023 on 02/11/2023 but we advise that it should be deployed before the Autumn School Census 2023. This should go through Automatically for most Primary schools but schools who manage their own deployments should schedule this themselves.

Below are the issues it deals with:

1. Personnel and School Workforce Census 2023 (England) - The DfE did not provide its revised list of four lookup tables to take account of the introduction of SBP (School Business Professional) SWC Post and identification of the SLT (Senior Leadership Team) in time for inclusion in our SIMS Summer Release 2023 our first CDP. Applying the patch will ensure that four lookup tables provide the lists specified by the DfE.
2. School Workforce Census 2023 - Working days lost for an absence is calculated correctly, but is reported in SWC in the wrong format, which will prevent successful upload to COLLECT. Applying the patch will ensure that working days lost is reported with the correct format and thereby remove the barrier for upload to COLLECT.
3. School Census Autumn 2023 - For School Census Autumn 2023 the DfE has extended its requirement to include permanent exclusions that are finalised before the census reference date rather than just those that are finalised by the end of the collection period. Applying the patch will ensure that permanent exclusions will be included in the census where they are finalised after the collection period but before the census reference data.
4. Course Management - When adding the new Tools | Examinations | Add Qualification Data we included validation that prevents QN plus Discount Code from being added if the QN already exists, even if it exists with a different Discount Code. This validation is also preventing Tools | Examinations | Import Qualification Data from importing a QN plus Discount Code if the QN already exists with a different Discount Code.  Applying the patch modifies the validation, so it only prevents duplication of QN plus Discount Code.

01/09/2023 - SIMS - technical - SIMS - latest upgrades

SIMS Summer 7.212 Upgrade.

01/09/2023 - SIMS - technical - SIMS - Installations and maintenance

SIMS – Next Gen DeX patch.

24/08/2023 - SIMS - examinations - SIMS - exams results

Document updated:

Exam results guidance

• dms364-sims-exam-results-survival-guide-2023-v1.2.pdf

21/08/2023 - SIMS - parental engagement - SIMS InTouch

Document updated:

• DMS337 SIMS InTouch – Sending Exam Results

17/08/2023 - SIMS - personnel - SIMS - general

New documents added to page:

Check lists for new and leaving staff

• SIMS – New Starter Check List
• SIMS – Staff Leaver Check List

16/08/2023 - SIMS - examinations - SIMS - exams results

Known issues added to page:

10/08/2023 - SIMS support - SIMS - personnel

Document added to page:

• DMS322 SIMS - Personnel Handbook

10/08/2023 - SIMS - technical - SIMS - Installations and maintenance

Document updated on page:

Migrating to SQL2016

• sql2016Sp2-migration-summer-2023.zip