Date: 5th January 2026
School Census Bulletin 1 – Spring 2026
DfE School Census Date: Thurs 15th Jan 2026 Return Date: Tues 20th Jan 2026
As you may be aware, the statutory School Census for the Spring Term takes place on Thu 15th January. We strongly recommend that schools begin to prepare for the School Census by ensuring that, so far as possible, pupil databases are up-to-date and the relevant systems / accesses are in place.
Bromcom users: At the time of publishing this bulletin Bromcom advise that whilst the Spring 2026 Census file is available to run, there is an issue with the View Errors screen. Please check Scomis and Bromcom school census webpages for latest information.
1. New data items
There are no new data items for this census
2. Changes to data items for 2025/26
- Early Years – Expanded hours has been amended to allow up to 30 hours to be claimed, following the policy change from September 2025. Children aged 9mths to 2yrs with eligible working parents were previously only entitled to claim 15 hours, from 1st September 2025 this has now increased to 30 hours.
- Early Years – in some circumstances, 2-year-olds may be eligible for both the 15-hour funded entitlement for disadvantaged 2-year-olds and the expanded entitlement. In these circumstances, parents must use the disadvantaged entitlement first, then the working parent entitlement up to a maximum of 30 hours in total. For example, a parent eligible for both entitlements and using 25 hours of provision would record 15 hours of disadvantaged entitlement and 10 hours of the working parent entitlement.
- Learner Funding and Monitoring Type – a new code has been created to record English and Maths minimum hours (code EMH)
- Learner Funding and Monitoring Code – new codes have been created to record whether or not student has minimum classroom teaching hours planned for eligible English and Maths qualifications
3. FSM transitional protection changes
Transitional protections have been extended until the end of the 2025/26 school year. All pupils becoming eligible for free school meals under the benefits-based criteria, should continue to receive this entitlement, regardless of any change in household circumstances, including an increase in earnings, or phase of education, until the end of the 25/26 school year.
From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, it is the Department for Education’s intention that all protections will be discontinued, alongside an extension to the eligibility criteria for free school meals. From this point, households must meet the eligibility criteria to be entitled to free school meals. This means that all Transitionally Protected claims will end and be rechecked for eligibility ahead of the 2026/27 academic year. The DfE will issue further guidance ahead of September 2026.
4. Bromcom users – reminder for previous sims users
Please remember that the following data items are captured in the pupil’s record rather than a panel in the school census routine (as in sims);
Top-up Funding, Post Looked After Arrangements, Early Years pupil premium and Early Years 2yr old basis for funding
In the autumn census several schools needed to submit additional returns as the information had not been recorded against the pupil in Bromcom.
5. Early Years Portal – deadline to inform reports needed for census
For this spring census the early years portal and school census collections are based on the same week. The early years headcount week is Sun 11th to Sat 17th Jan.
The EY portal informs the EYPP and EY 2yr old funding reports that you need to complete your census return. New children and parent/carer details need to be submitted by close of Fri 9th January to allow time for the information to be processed centrally.
As the collections are based on the same week comparisons of hours held in the two collections will be made. It is therefore vital that the information in the EY portal is completed to enable these checks to be undertaken.
6. Department for Education (DfE) Sign-in Portal – COLLECT
We are aware, that some schools, have in the past encountered difficulties with their COLLECT access. We therefore ask that you check your COLLECT access by logging in to the DfE Sign in Portal as soon as possible https://services.signin.education.gov.uk/.
7. Further Guidance
Our School Census Quick Guide, Supporting Guide (indicating census data items in Bromcom) and checklist are available at School Census – Support for schools and settings (devon.gov.uk).
Bromcom school census guide is available via Spring 2026 School Census Guide – Bromcom – Documentation Centre
Bromcom error resolutions for the Spring 2026 return is available via Spring 2026 Error Resolutions Guide – Bromcom – Documentation Centre
If you have any queries, or if this is your first census, please email census@devon.gov.uk and someone from the Education Information Team will contact you to provide support and guidance.
Kind regards,
Education Information Team (EdIT)