[sims] Census - DfE Attendance Codes are not Compliant

[MurphyMurphyMurphy]

I'm unable to even run our census because SIMS is telling me our attendance codes are not DfE compliant. Is anyone else having this problem?

 

 

The only guidance from ESS is that, if you get this error, you should contact your local support unit. Strictly Education seems just as confused as I am. We have all the up-to-date patches, and Strictly says none of their other schools have this problem. As census day is tomorrow, I'm getting desperate. Any ideas?

[PotNoodleTech]

Almost sounds like a recent patch has not been run?

 

Get back on with your SIMS support partner they need to get it sorted by tomorrow Census is like non negotiable.

[mavhc]

Are you using the new codes? https://support.scholarpack.com/hc/en-gb/articles/20903075403549-New-Attendance-Codes-as-of-19th-August-2024

[krtek]

I'm unable to even run our census because SIMS is telling me our attendance codes are not DfE compliant. Is anyone else having this problem?

 

 

The only guidance from ESS is that, if you get this error, you should contact your local support unit. Strictly Education seems just as confused as I am. We have all the up-to-date patches, and Strictly says none of their other schools have this problem. As census day is tomorrow, I'm getting desperate. Any ideas?

 

Look in Tools > Setups > attendance setup > codes > maintain codes

 

We've had a couple of schools which have changed the statistical meaning of some of them meaning that SIMS bombs out at the create and validate stage

 

the correct code list is buried at the bottom of this page

 

Dave

[MurphyMurphyMurphy]

Thanks everyone for their replies so far. Support have come back and said that the problem is being caused by the use of the X code. My attendance officer told me they have always used X for Year 13s after exams end. If this is not the correct code, which should we use? Is it S for study leave? If so, that will impact our overall attendance, will it not? X actually seems appropriate because it is "Not Required to Attend"

[PotNoodleTech]

Interesting - I asked my Data Manager and they said they would only use X or S codes if it was agreed with the Local Authority - i.e we wouldnt just decide out of the blue to let 6thform on study leave and put X or S codes in (though she said she would probably use S code if we were)

 

Hope that helps.

[MurphyMurphyMurphy]

Update - Replacing the X codes didn't change anything. Still getting the error. Now support is saying we have to correct all our missing marks and unexplained absences before we can Create & Validate the census. This has NEVER been the case in the past. You create and validate, it tells you that you have missing marks, you correct them. I can't even get that far. I have a very strong suspicion that, even after we correct missing marks and unexplained absences, we'll still see the same error (Your attendance codes are not DfE compliant).

 

I'm desperate for help!

[yorkie]

Can you check to see if anybody has inadvertently entered a 'Z' code as we have had that happen before.

[mavhc]

Also Y is no longer allowed, has to be Y1,Y2 etc

[MurphyMurphyMurphy]

We do have Z codes within the census attendance dates (4/1/24 - 31/7/24), but aren't those automatically generated when a student is offrolled? Are you saying I should check to see if any non-offrolled student has a Z code?

[krtek]

we're looking at the summer term codes here so Y is fine - as is Z for periods off roll

[MurphyMurphyMurphy]

we're looking at the summer term codes here so Y is fine - as is Z for periods off roll

 

Yep, thought as much. Support has finally escalated to ESS which I wish they would have done a week and a half ago when I contacted them regarding this. Oh well, at least all our missing marks and unexplained absences are dealt with. Now I just have to wait for ESS to respond.

[bobsmith]

This census looks at attendance between 01/04/2024 and 31/07/2024 - the new codes didn't come into force until 01/09/2024.

 

Run an attendance by codes report covering that period and see if anything really weird comes up.

 

If that doesn't find anything then it's a job for ESS.

 

P.s. the X code is valid for all 6th form absences (yep - all of them - though you'd be silly to use it all the time).

It's also valid for year 11s who are over 16 from the last Friday in June. Definitely use it there.

S is an absence, X isn't.

 

DfE guidance overrules local authority/county guidance.

Edited October 3, 2024 by bobsmith