SIMS School Workforce Census 2024 guidance

Here’s your update on the latest guidance for the 2024 School Workforce Census from ESS SIMS

The all-important dates!

• Census day 07/11/2024
• Absence Start date 01/09/2023  
• Absence End Date 31/08/2024 
• Continuous Contract Start Date 01/09/2023 
• Continuous Contract End Date 07/11/2024

• • (Although employment leaving date is not included in this census, it is very important for selected which staff to include in the census when contracts / service agreements are NOT being included in the census.)
• Deadline for submitting your data: Friday 6th December 2024

What is collected in the SWC?

The following staff member data items are collected:

Staff details

• Contract details (including the employment start date for the period of employment that applies to each contract)
• Service Agreement details for agency teachers (including the employment start date for the period of employment that applies to each service agreement)
• Payment details for categories of staff
• Additional payment data is collected for non-teaching school leaders as well as teachers and teaching assistants.
• Additional payment data for other support staff is no longer required
• Absence details for teachers and teaching assistants in regular service, working for schools through a contract (not an agency agreement)
• Curriculum details for teachers and teaching assistants in the timetable cycle in which the census falls (Secondary and All-Through schools only)
• Qualification details for (NQF Level 4+) Post A Level
• Qualification data is collected for teachers, teaching assistants and non-teaching school leaders. Qualification data is no longer required for
  other support staff

School level data items are collected:

• Vacancies
• Occasional teachers
• Third party staff count

The return collects staff data for both teachers and support staff:

Teachers and Support Staff with contracts: who are employed by the school via a current contract that has lasted for 28 days or more on census day
or
who are have been employed by the school via a contract for 28 days or more during the collection period
or
who are have been employed by the school via a permanent contract or via a contract with a contract end date at least 27 days after the contract start date.
Teachers with service agreements (agency teachers): who are employed by the school via a current service agreement with a third party on census day
or

who have been employed by the school via a service agreement for 28 days or more during the collection period.

Fileset 2506 is now available

The latest Fileset (2506) is now available, so hit the download button and unzip the folder.

Download fileset

Then open 'SIMS' and go to 'Tools | Setups | Import' and click the yellow folder button to browse to the fileset, simply highlight it and choose 'Open' then use the 'Import Fileset' button.

Guidance notes

Guide for preparing for the School Workforce Census 

Guide for producing the School Workforce Census 2024 Return

DfE Guidance

Error and Solutions

Carry Out a Dry Run 

You can carry out one or more dry runs of the School Workforce Census. It is advisable to do this as early as possible, even if you know that your data has not yet been fully prepared or checked. The purpose of the dry run is to produce the Validation Errors Summary, which details the corrections that need to be made to your data.

If you require any assistance please call us on 0345 222 1551 | Opt 3 or email misservicedesk@schoolbusinessservices.co.uk

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Would you like us to do your School Workforce Census for you?

Let us take it off your to-do list this month by contacting us. We're taking orders for the School Workforce Census. Looking ahead, we can do ALL of this year's returns for you - whether you are already an SBS customer or not!

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