The SIMS User Group Meeting slides from Thursday 21^st March 2024 are now available to view.

Please log into our website, using your Schools HR Cooperative account, go to SIMSforSchools then scroll down and click on SIMS User Group & Admin Network Meetings to access the link to view the presentation slides.

If you have any queries please contact our helpdesk.

As published in our January newsletter, the next SIMS User Group meeting is due to be held via Microsoft Teams as follows:

• Date:    Thursday 21st March 2024
• Time:    2.30pm - 3.30pm*

*Please note the new timing.

As usual, this will be an informal session where the SimsforSchools team will provide an update on any new and upcoming developments in SIMS. If you would like to add any SIMS-related items for discussion during the session, please let us know and we will aim to include these if possible.

A link will be emailed separately in due course with a link to join the meeting.

No confirmation of attendance is required.

Our Preparing and Producing notes for School Census Spring 2024 are now available to download.

Please login into your Schools HR Cooperative account, go to SIMSforSchools on the home page and then click on School Census.

There you can download the notes based on your school setting.

If you have any queries please contact our helpdesk.

The SIMS User Group Meeting slides from Thursday 7^th December 2023 are now available to view.

Please log into our website, using your Schools HR Cooperative account, go to SIMSforSchools then click on SIMS User Group & Admin Network Meetings to access the link to view the presentation slides.

If you have any queries please contact our helpdesk.

The Admin Network Meeting slides from Thursday 19^th October 2023 are now available to view.

Please log into our website, using your Schools HR Cooperative account, go to SIMSforSchools then click on SIMS User Group & Admin Network Meetings to access the links to view the presentation slides.

If you have any queries please contact our helpdesk.

Early Office Closure on Friday 15 December 2023

Our office will be closed from 12:00 on Friday 15 December 2023 to enable our staff to attend an off-site training event that afternoon. All staff will be attending this event .

Office Close Down during the 2023/24 Festive Season

Our office will be closed in the period between Christmas and New Year (27, 28, and 29 December 2023). Our school holiday contact hours of 09:00 to 16:00 will apply during the period 02 January to 05 January 2024 (inclusive). Our normal contact hours will resume from 08:00 on Monday 08 January 2024.

The SIMSforSchools team would like to wish you all a safe, happy, and relaxing festive season.

Autumn Term - 5th October 2023

Spring Term - 18th January 2024

Summer Term - 16th May 2024

Our End of Year Procedures notes are now available to download.

Please login into your Schools HR Cooperative account, go to SIMSforSchools on the home page and then click on End of Year Procedures.

There you can download the notes.

If you have any queries please contact our helpdesk.

The Key Stage Assessment Gudances and the presentation slides are now available to view.

Please log into our website using your Schools HR Cooperative account, go to SIMSforSchools then click on Assessment & Key Stage. You will find the links to view the presentation slides and the Key Stage Returns guidance notes on entering results into SIMS. You will also find links to the DfE guidance.

If you have any queries please contact our helpdesk.

The DfE has provided the following guidance regarding the teacher's strike.

If a school has to restrict attendance by telling some pupils not to attend school on a strike day, the Y code [Unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances - not counted in possible attendances] should be used for pupils told not to attend. Pupils who are required to attend should be marked in the normal way. If a pupil is required to attend school on a strike day but does not, then they must be recorded as absent. The Y code does not count towards the pupil or school’s absence record.

The guidance document can be accessed via the link below:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1128077/Handling_strike_action_in_schools.pdf

1.  Select Focus | Attendance/Lesson Monitor | Exceptional Circumstances to display the Find an Exceptional Circumstance browser.

2.  Click New to open the Create Exceptional Circumstance browser.

3.  Enter the required date – can be AM/PM or both.

4.  Group Type defaults to Whole School but can be changed to Year/Reg Group or Individual Students.

5.  Click Search.

7.  Select the Y Code at the bottom of the screen.

8.  In the Description box enter a relevant explanation, i.e. teacher strike.

9.  Click on Apply at the top of the screen.

10. Go into the Attendance module via Focus | Attendance/Lesson Monitor | Edit Marks and select the relevant Week Beginning date.

11. Click Search to see the Y code recorded on the selected date.

The Prime Minister has decided to proclaim an additional bank holiday to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

The bank holiday will fall on Monday 8th May 2023, following the Coronation on Saturday 6th May 2023.

To add the Bank Holiday in SIMS for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III:

1. Go to Focus | School | School Diary.
2. Click in Monday 8th May 2023.
3. Right click on this date and choose 'New Public Holiday'.
4. In the Description box type 'Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III'.
5. Under Category, choose Public Holiday.
6. Ensure the tick is in 'All day event'.
7. Click on 'Ok'.

There will now be a # code in attendance for all pupils

If you have any queries please contact our helpdesk.

Our Preparing for and Producing the School Workforce Census notes are now available to download.

Please login into your Schools HR Cooperative account, go to SIMSforSchools on the home page and then click on School Workforce Census.

There you can download the notes.

If you have any queries please contact our helpdesk.

To add the Bank Holiday in SIMS for the late HRH Queen Elizabeth II State Funeral:

1. Go to Focus | School | School Diary.
2. Click in Monday 19th September 2022.
3. Right click on this date and choose 'New Public Holiday'.
4. In the Description box type 'State Funeral of HRH Queen Elizabeth II'.
5. Under Category, choose Public Holiday.
6. Ensure the tick is in 'All day event'.
7. Click on 'Ok'.

There will now be a # code in attendance for all pupils

If you have any queries please contact our helpdesk.

Welcome to our new SIMSforSchools website!

The old website is now no longer active. But do not worry you will be able to pick up notes, guidance, and documents from our new website just as before.

The website has a new look and is now linked to the Schools HR Cooperative website. So, you can still use the https://www.simsforschools.com URL which will take you directly to our new website or you can navigate to our website through the Schools HR Cooperative website.

To access the documents, notes, and guidance, you will need to log into your Schools HR Cooperative account. Once logged in you will be taken to our Categories page where you can download the guidance notes and documents such as the School Census notes. If you do not have an account, you will need to register an account on the website.

Also, when you have logged in, you will be able to log tickets directly to our helpdesk. Go to and click on your account name on the top left of the page, then select My Account. Then click on SIMS Helpdesk and then click on Open New Ticket. Fill in the details required, and then click Submit. You also upload screenshots and documents with the call too. Once the call has been submitted, we will receive a notification that your call has been logged. The helpdesk is more interactive where you can respond to our messages directly on the helpdesk, and you can also accept or reject solutions provided.

If you have any queries about the new website and/or the new helpdesk, please do not hesitate in contacting us.