Using SIMS parent - forced to use FB, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account

[Ditto]

My sons school has dropped Frog and is asking parents to use SIMS parent. Putting aside the carpiness of the product in as much although I have used it, it's proving impossible to sign in to or reset my password, the school is stating that "You will need to sign in using one of the following accounts: Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft."

 

Personally, I find that unacceptable even if I had those accounts. I would be willing to use my email account. Is there any justification for the schools approach and is another option feasible.

[nicholab]

I am guessing it means that you don’t have to sit in the directory. Also i think Capita built it that way so schools can’t change it. Well if they were cleaver they would loss SIMS. For most people that makes life easier using one of those options.

[Ditto]

I am guessing it means that you don’t have to sit in the directory. Also i think Capita built it that way so schools can’t change it. Well if they were cleaver they would loss SIMS. For most people that makes life easier using one of those options.

 

For me, life would be 'easier' to let me choose to just use my email address. I might not want any of those account or I might not be happy with their data privacy policies. I'm definitely not in the 'most people' category. Given I've obviously previously used SIMS parent, is there anyway to tell what account I'd used previously? I checked my personal google account and no sign if it there. I'm very selective using my Google account for sign-in, but I'm 100% sure I've never used FB or twitter. I can't think that I've used MS for anything other than Quick Assist. Is it possible to check in my MS account linked apps?

[paulkerton]

Do they not also offer SIMS ID?

[David44]

It should be possible to sign up for a SIMS ID. i.e. a username and password you use just for products that support SIMS ID (SIMS Parent, Pay 360 etc.) When you click on 'Accept Invite' in the email sent by the system, you actually need to scroll down to see the third party options. SIMS ID is the shown at the top for our parents, students and staff. In fact, they all go to the same page. This page... https://registration.sims.co.uk/

 

We actually have the opposite problem. All our students have Google accounts and it would make it so much easier for them to sign up to SIMS Student using that account. Capita/ESS keep pushing them to create a SIMS ID though, as you can see the page above makes that option much more prominent. You can see why they do it, it keeps people locked in to their system but it doesn't help the students, staff or parents in anyway. It just makes things harder for them and us. Hopefully we are ditching it this year.

Edited September 24, 2021 by David44

[ass17]

We preferred Parents use an external method over creating a Sims ID but they have the choice.

[Ditto]

Do they not also offer SIMS ID?

 

Their instructions were clear to use one one of those account, however there instructions are as follows and shows SIMSId in the list.

I'd try, but I have not been sent a new activation code, and have one from 2 years ago. Can't reset my password because it rejects all attempts, including asking for the name of my first teacher - I've no idea that I would ever have filled that in previously! Besides, when you type in the answer, it goes on to ask you to type in your new password, and again to verify, and only after to say one of the items does not match. (I do wish software companies employed skilled UX designers). It could be the email address, it could be the answer to the question I've no idea about, it could be because it's link to another account - who knows! I dread having to follow up with their IT support team - I once interviewed there but withdrew - they seemed more interested in suit and tie wearing to 'look' professional. I'd much rather they just worked professionally!!!

Edited September 24, 2021 by Ditto

[Ditto]

We preferred Parents use an external method over creating a Sims ID but they have the choice.

 

Choice is the key thing for me.

[Ditto]

It should be possible to sign up for a SIMS ID. i.e. a username and password you use just for products that support SIMS ID (SIMS Parent, Pay 360 etc.) When you click on 'Accept Invite' in the email sent by the system, you actually need to scroll down to see the third party options. SIMS ID is the shown at the top for our parents, students and staff. In fact, they all go to the same page. This page... https://registration.sims.co.uk/

 

We actually have the opposite problem. All our students have Google accounts and it would make it so much easier for them to sign up to SIMS Student using that account. Capita/ESS keep pushing them to create a SIMS ID though, as you can see the page above makes that option much more prominent. You can see why they do it, it keeps people locked in to their system but it doesn't help the students, staff or parents in anyway. It just makes things harder for them and us. Hopefully we are ditching it this year.

 

I'm going to try this. I think I will need to ask the school to delete all records of my old account and send a new invitation. Can a school actually block use of SIMS ID?

[FN-GM]

I would trust those identity providers more than using a login secured by Capita (although now it no longer is…).

[Ditto]

I would trust those identity providers more than using a login secured by Capita (although now it no longer is…).

 

I agree and it's one of the reasons why I prefer to just use my email address (or SIMS Id) and not linking to accounts where there is much more data that could be compromised.

[David44]

I'm going to try this. I think I will need to ask the school to delete all records of my old account and send a new invitation. Can a school actually block use of SIMS ID?

 

The school can remove the third-party account so it can not be used to sign in to SIMS ID (which confusingly is the name of a type of account and the name of the authentication system that allows you to sign in with various types of account including a SIMS ID). They shouldn't normally need to though, they can just invite you again, which issues a new invitation code and invalidates the link between third party and SIMS ID. Capita/ESS have recently started saying this takes 24 hours/overnight though. Not sure if that is true or if they are just saying it to stop people raising calls with them when it doesn't work, which it often doesn't. Whatever you do, you will need a new code so ask the school for one, the system is so badly designed that the user can't request a new code by simply typing their email address and clicking a button themselves, they make some poor soul in the school click a button for each new invite for some reason.

 

I don't believe the school can stop users choosing to register with SIMS ID or any of the third parties. It's why we are left in the position of offering 11 year olds the chance to link their Facebook account Looking at your screenshots, they haven't blocked SIMS ID.

[Kyle]

Is there no one from ESS on this forum yet?