{"id":4519,"date":"2026-09-09T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/supportforschools\/?page_id=4519"},"modified":"2026-09-11T09:30:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T08:30:18","slug":"school-census-bulletin-1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/administration-and-finance\/administration\/school-census\/school-census-bulletin-1\/","title":{"rendered":"School Census Bulletin 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Date:\u202f&nbsp;<\/span>9th September 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">School Census Bulletin 1 \u2013 <\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233279&quot;:true}\">Autumn 2026&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-dcc-subheading wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>DfE School Census Date<\/strong>:\u202fThurs 1<sup>st<\/sup> Oct 2026&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-dcc-subheading wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Return Deadline Date<\/strong>: Tues 6<sup>th<\/sup> Oct 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator aligncenter has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1. Preparing for Census Day<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schools can do a dry run of their census prior to census day to check their data and identify any errors\/queries that need to be resolved. This will not be the file version that\u2019s uploaded to COLLECT, this needs to be run either on census day or within a couple of days afterwards, but it will help you clean your data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bromcom users: you can do a dry run as soon as Bromcom have upgraded their software to enable census returns to be run. Please check the Scomis website for regular updates; <a href=\"https:\/\/faq.scomis.org\/kb2398892\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Autumn School Census 2026 &#8211; Bulletin<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2. Bromcom users:&nbsp;software readiness<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the time of publishing this bulletin Bromcom advise that the Autumn 2026 Census file is not yet available to run and so incorrect validation errors might appear if generating the census file. Please do not finalise and upload a return until the Autumn 2026 Census file has been applied, please check <a href=\"https:\/\/faq.scomis.org\/kb2398892\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Scomis<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.bromcom.com\/knowledge-base\/autumn-2026-school-census-homepage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bromcom<\/a> school census webpages for latest information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3. Changes to data items<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Free School Meal eligibility<\/strong> \u2013 as FSM transitional protections have ended all pupils\u2019 FSM eligibility must be re-checked. Devon County Council will be rechecking all pupils known to be eligible for FSM, with school FSM lists available to download via the provider portal at the start of term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4. New data items<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-default\">\n<li><strong>Free School Meal last verified date<\/strong> \u2013 this date must be recorded in the census, without a valid date, pupils will not be counted as eligible which will result in a loss of funding for schools.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Free School Meal categories<\/strong> &#8211; there will be two categories of Free school meals, targeted FSM and expanded FSM. FSM lists will be available to download via the provider portal at the start of term which will include the claim type (targeted or expanded). For further information please see \u2018Free school meal legislation changes\u2019 section of our quick guide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kinship Care indicator<\/strong> &#8211; this new indicator records, for those children on roll on autumn census day only, whether they have been identified as living in Kinship Care. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Managed Moves<\/strong> \u2013 for each managed move arranged during the collection period, schools must provide the managed move start date, destination school URN and reason for managed move. As managed moves are permanent transfers these data items will be for pupils no longer on roll only. Please note: DfE advise managed moves are permanent transfers arranged to reduce a pupil\u2019s risk of exclusion and\/or following a review of off-site direction.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please see our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/administration-and-finance\/administration\/school-census\/new-data-items-advance-notice-to-schools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">advance notice bulletin<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/administration-and-finance\/administration\/school-census\/school-census-quick-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">quick guide<\/a>&nbsp;for further information on these new items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5. BROMCOM users &#8211; Refreshing the Student Cache<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please ensure that you refresh the student cache before running your census return \u2013 this will ensure that any recently updated data will be pulled through to your census return. This step is included in Scomis\u2019 FAQ&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/faq.scomis.org\/kb2398137\/\" rel=\"noopener\">BROMCOM \u2013 Quick Summary Guide \u2013 Pre-checks and Generating School Census<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6. Early Years 2yr olds \u2013 hours and basis of funding<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ve recently identified that some schools incorrectly recorded their 2yr olds as being in receipt of the universal free entitlement (funded hours) due to economic criteria. Our colleagues in EY advised that these children should have been recorded with expanded hours and not funded hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is vital that schools complete the EY portal tasks as indicated below and use the available reports to inform their census returns. If you are unsure which hours a child should be recorded with please contact us via email at <a href=\"mailto:census@devon.gov.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">census@devon.gov.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bromcom users: you can check the EY information in the Census Data Check Report for on roll pupils available via the reports button in the school census page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7. Early Years Portal&nbsp;\u2013 deadline to inform reports needed for census<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For this Autumn census the early years portal and school census collections are based on different weeks. The early years headcount week is Sun 13<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0to 19<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0September (before census).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The EY portal informs the EYPP and EY 2yr old funding reports that you need to complete your census return.&nbsp;<strong>New children and parent\/carer details need to be submitted by close of Sun 27<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;Sept to allow time for the information to be processed centrally.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the collections are based upon different weeks comparisons of hours held in the two collections cannot be made. However, we will check that pupils in the EY portal also exist in the school census return.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>8. Department for Education (DfE) Sign-in Portal \u2013 COLLECT<\/strong>\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/services.signin.education.gov.uk\/\" rel=\"noopener\">DfE Sign in Portal<\/a> as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>9. Further Guidance<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our School Census Quick Guide, Supporting Guide (indicating census data items in Bromcom) and checklist are available at\u202f<a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/administration-and-finance\/administration\/school-census\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">School Census\u202f \u2013 Support for schools and settings (devon.gov.uk).<\/a>\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/faq.scomis.org\/kb2398892\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Scomis Autumn Census bulletin<\/a>&nbsp;has the latest information on Bromcom guides and any known issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.bromcom.com\/knowledge-base\/autumn-2026-school-census-homepage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bromcom A 2026 School Census home page<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bromcom school census guide is available via&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.bromcom.com\/knowledge-base\/autumn-2026-school-census-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Autumn 2026 School Census Guide \u2013 Bromcom \u2013 Documentation Centre<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bromcom error resolutions for the Autumn 2026 return is available via\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/docs.bromcom.com\/knowledge-base\/autumn-2026-error-resolutions-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Autumn 2026 Error Resolutions Guide \u2013 Bromcom \u2013 Documentation Centre<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have any queries, or if this is your first census, please email <a href=\"mailto:census@devon.gov.uk\">census@devon.gov.uk<\/a> and someone from the Education Information Team will contact you to provide support and guidance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kind regards,\u202f\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Education Information Team (EdIT)\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"mailto:census@devon.gov.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">census@devon.gov.uk<\/a>\u202f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a id=\"_msocom_1\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Date:\u202f&nbsp;9th September 2026 School Census Bulletin 1 \u2013 Autumn 2026&nbsp;&nbsp; DfE School Census Date:\u202fThurs 1st Oct 2026&nbsp; Return Deadline Date: Tues 6th Oct 2026 1. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":748,"featured_media":0,"parent":107,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-4519","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-10-24 14:29:53","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4519","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/748"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4519"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4519\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37955,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4519\/revisions\/37955"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4519"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}