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Scomis May 2020 Newsletter
 
scomis.org Scomis online
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Welcome back to the May edition of our Scomis newsletter.

Just a reminder that during the COVID-19 lockdown, services continue to operate as normal. For more information including advice and guidance on how best to access our services please refer to our news bulletin.

We are now working in 740 schools across 33 local authorities.

We'd like to welcome staff at the following new schools who have joined Scomis in the last few months:


North Somerset: Gordano School, Backwell Junior, Backwell School, West Leigh Infant School

Somerset: Puriton Primary

Dorset: Colehill First School, Hayeswood First School, St John's C of E First School, Witchampton First School, Emmanuel Middle School

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: Merley First School

Portsmouth: Wimborne Infants, St John's Cathedral Primary

Croydon: Croydon High School

Northamptonshire: Northampton High School

Bath & North East Somerset: Chew Valley School, East Harptree, Ubley Primary, Whitchurch Primary

Cornwall: Poltair School, Saltash Community School, Falmouth School, Burraton Primary

Reading: St Martin's Catholic Primary, Churchend Primary

Ealing: Alec Reed Academy 

Birmingham: Fox Hollies School
 
Contents
 
 
 
 
 
 
The DfE has announced additional funding to assist schools with the adoption of a Digital Education Platform to support distance learning during the current COVID-19 outbreak. 

As your school's ICT partner, we have already helped many schools transition to the cloud and to implement effective digital teaching and learning strategies. 

By providing agnostic advice, we can help you to achieve best value from the
DfE funding in the short term. We can also help you to build on this foundation to fully exploit cloud technologies in the future.  

Click for more information about the DfE funded support for Digital Education Platforms.

For help choosing the best cloud technology for your school, contact us or click here to find out more about how we can help. 
 
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We have delayed sending out the annual customer survey. We expect to email this to customers in early June so please look out for it and respond for your chance to win in our prize draw.
 
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The SIMS Spring Upgrade 2020 has been installed on our Hosted Application Platform  and released via SOLUS for those schools who upgrade their own data. The upgrade brings a number of enhancements to the way in which SIMS functions, including fixes and developments:
  • GDPR Changes to Individual Registration Certificate
  • Importing Pupil/Student Email Addresses & Telephone Numbers
  • Viewing Exams Access Arrangements in SEND record
  • Enhancements to the Reporting Dictionary for Exam Access Arrangements
  • T-Level recording for Post-16 Schools
  • Finance Update
For more information, please see our short videos below which show more detail.

SIMS 7 Update 
SIMS 7 Update Post 16 

SIMS 7 Update Finance
 
Further work to help schools with maintaining accurate data is planned for the SIMS Summer Upgrade when the ability to add the Y code via Edit Marks will be available.

Sign up to our news bulletins on our website to find out more. 
 
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Following the cancellation of all examinations for 2020 due to Covid-19, the priority is to provide the majority of students with a calculated centre assessed grade. In terms of a permanent record, the grades will be indistinguishable from those provided in other years. Working in collaboration, schools and the examination boards will, following guidance from Ofqual and the DfE, aim to ensure that the distribution of grades follows a similar pattern to that in other years, so that this year's students do not face a systematic disadvantage as a consequence of these extraordinary circumstances.
 
Results will not be published nationally or used by Ofsted to inform future inspections.
 
This document will provide guidance on how you can collect, and record centre assessed grades and rank students.   This is based on the information at time of printing.  Schools will need to ensure that they monitor Ofqual, DfE and the Awarding Bodies websites regularly to ensure they are aware of the latest updates.
 
If schools require assistance in the SIMS processes outlined, please contact the Scomis Service Desk – 01392 385300.
 
Any queries regarding information and/or documentation provided by Ofqual, DfE or Awarding Bodies should be raised with them directly.
 
Download of Examination Results in SIMS Examinations Organiser 2020
 
Due to the current situation, Scomis are not able to offer our usual Classroom based training.  Therefore, we are providing guidance on preparing SIMS Examinations Organiser to aid the successful download of the examination results 2020 from the Awarding Bodies.  This guidance will be available from the Scomis Website and sent out to Examination Officers by Friday 19th June 2020.

If you feel you require training, please contact us as we may be able to schedule a remote training session for you.

 
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The Coronavirus epidemic and subsequent closure of schools to most pupils has been challenging in so many ways. 

Current thinking is that disadvantaged pupils are likely to be disproportionately impacted by school closures and that the attainment gap may widen in the short and medium term. It will be important for schools to be able to monitor and track their disadvantaged pupils effectively over the coming months. 

If you'd like help from one of our School Improvement Partners in this area, please contact us – we are working remotely with schools in this period.

Useful Information

Research Schools Network
https://researchschool.org.uk/news/sustaining-the-learning-of-disadvantaged-pupils-during-school-lockdown/

Sutton Trust
https://www.suttontrust.com/our-research/covid-19-and-social-mobility-impact-brief/

 
 
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During these unprecedented times, have you considered if your teachers know they can access relevant pupil/student information?
 
Consider the following questions:
  • Do your teachers realise they could be accessing key information relevant to their role simply and effectively from the SIMS home page?
  • Do your teachers know that they could be accessing key information from the SIMS Register screen to help them to identify vulnerable groups?
  • Do your teachers know that it is possible to quickly create lists containing relevant (vital) information without needing input from the school administrator(s)?
  • Do your teachers know they can easily access all the information they require for parent consultation meetings without having to print?
Using Pupil Teacher View provides the classroom teacher with immediate access to pupil information:
  • Pupil's Basic Details
    • Name, Date of Birth, Contact Details
    • Behaviour, Achievement, Conduct
  • Attendance Summary
    • Registration certificate
    • Analysis of Attendance
  • Assessment Key Indicators
 
Configuration of the SIMS Home Page and Pupil Teacher View will enable your teachers to use SIMS effectively and efficiently. They will save time and be able to have pupil information at their fingertips!

To find out more click here.
 
How?
  • Need help to configure your teacher's Home Page?
  • Need help to configure Pupil Teacher View?
  • Do your teachers need training on how to use SIMS effectively?
 
Please contact the Scomis Service Desk on 01392 385300 and request a call from your Scomis Account Manager.
 
 
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We are building a library of videos to help you get more out of SIMS. 

Find below links to three key areas that are often under utilised by schools, but could save you time without incurring any cost as all items covered are included within your SIMS annual entitlement.

SIMS Discover allows you to easily analyse pupil data held in SIMS in minutes, saving valuable time. The powerful user interface enables the data to be presented in a variety of ways, including, Venn diagrams, bar charts, pie charts and line graphs, with the ability to drill down into the data. SIMS Discover lets you efficiently monitor pupils, provides evidence to inspectors and governors and strengthens your school's safeguarding arrangements.
This video offers a brief run through of Discover's functionality and power to portray data.

SIMS Interventions is a system to record and track underperforming students, allocate additional resources and monitor how those resources affect Key Performance Indicators. Interventions allows schools to record how much those resources cost, so that outcomes can be tracked against cost as well as against impact.

Scomis has produced some video guides to assist schools with running general Housekeeping routines in SIMS, to ensure the database is checked and 'tidied' on a regular basis.  In these videos we cover:
  • Deleting Unlinked Contacts
  • How to Tidy/Merge Addresses
  • How to merge Agents / Agencies
    All to help keep your database as tidy as possible.
 
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  • School leaders have been reminded  that they can expect staff to undertake CPD when they are not required to be in school 

  • Will your staff need training or a refresh on how to use SIMS for the new academic year?

  • Can they use the opportunity of working from home to prepare to hit the ground running?
Here at Scomis we have taken the chance to revamp and refresh our Scolearn site.

It now includes information on all our training services as well as the opportunity to browse, book and purchase one of our online learning courses – to enable learning ' any time, any place, any pace' which is just what we need right now!

 
 
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With ScoLearn Digital you can:

  • Get the information you need when you need it and where you need it

  • Have a varied learning pace

  • Revisit content as many times as you like

  • Receive certification on completion of courses
 
To see our new ScoLearn site click here
 
 
 
 
Can you believe it's End Of Year time already?
Are you worried about what needs to be done in SIMS before the summer?
 
Scomis has a recorded webinar available which tells you all you need to know about SIMS End of Year procedures.
     
If you subscribe to our Webtrain service you will have received a link to the recording already via Outlook
     
You can also buy the webinar on an ad-hoc basis. To book or discuss any further training needs such as remote training, please contact Scomis on 01392 385300 or email scomis@devon.gov.uk.
 
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Whilst schools are operating remotely, we have been receiving a growing number of requests to move to the hosted platform. For the small number of our customers who are not using the service, here's a reminder of the benefits of using the platform.

Our Hosted Application Service is a fully managed service which removes the burden of managing SIMS, FMS and Discover Onsite with school-based servers. Your access to your SIMS doesn't need to suffer because you can't get in to school! Data can be accessed without having to visit the school.
  • You can access your data securely anytime and from anywhere with an internet connection using a range of devices including Windows, Android, Chromebooks or Apple.

  • Scomis takes care of all SIMS updates for you so you no longer require any technical intervention for SIMS upgrades

  • No need to back up SIMS data – Scomis takes care of this for you
     
  • Data is hosted safely and securely which will mitigate the risks of any data breaches.

  • High levels of availability – Our private cloud based in the UK is available 24/7 and exceeds our target of 99% availability during the school day.

  • GDPR compliance and data security – As a data processor we comply with GDPR and hold ISO27001 certification, an international standard for data and information security.

  • Superior user experience with simple and seamless access to data and remote support we offer the very best user experience.   

  •   Web browser access - to help you extend the use of SIMS into the classroom for no additional cost.

  • Full database access for Multi Academy Trusts and Federations – users can easily log on and have all the data for all the schools in the trust in 1 place.

  • Third party application integration with SIMS – many third-party apps are managed and maintained within the service, saving time and money.
 
Please contact your Scomis Account Manager on 01392 385300 for more information.
 
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Are You Struggling to Obtain and Maintain Up-to-Date Information from Parents?
Included within your SIMS annual entitlement fee, the SIMS Parent Lite app provides schools with a simple way to collect, manage and handle information by obtaining accurate data securely from parents, which may be hard to obtain in the current situation. You can register to receive access to Parent Lite app on https://www.capita-sims.co.uk/form/parent-lite-app-order-now or find out more on the Scomis website here.
 
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As an academy group, have you ever asked your schools:
  • What are your current pupil exclusions?
  • What is your current staff absence?
  • What is your current Key Stage 2 assessment data?
  • What is your school's current pupil attendance?
  • How many pupils, broken down into year group, are Pupil Premium?
Reporting and managing data can be challenging, especially within a school.
Asking for data from several schools can be time consuming and inconsistent in
format.
The new Scomis Managed Reporting Service is a web-based solution which gathers data overnight and combines it into a ready to use dashboard for your academy group. The dashboards make it easy to understand the data, combining key performance measures and useful pupil demographic filters for a consolidated view. Being automated, your academy group will have data at their fingertips without having to put demands on the schools.

If you would like more information please click here, or contact your Scomis Account Manager.
 
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During the Covid-19 related school closures Capita is now offering the following;
  1. A free upgrade to those schools already registered for the Parent Lite app to the full versions of Parent and Student apps. This is to help schools during closures to communicate with parents and students, and set and mark homework remotely.
  2. Free of charge access to Teacher App to allow teachers to enter or update marks or grades and access normal timetable for planning purposes.
  3. SIMS ID lite to provide a single sign on solution to schools to help teachers and parents access relevant key school resources using a single username and password.
Free licences will currently run until 31st August 2020.

If you sign up to a three year agreement, as well as getting the next 4 months free, you will also be eligible for discount of up to 30% on the Parental Engagement suite.


Please find more information about the Parental Engagement products here.

Should you be interested please contact us at scomis@devon.gov.uk or call 01392 385300.
 
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Encouraging take-up of free school meals and identifying your school's Pupil Premium income is a common challenge schools and groups of schools are facing. Online Free School Meals (OFSM) helps simplify the free school meal process and encourages free school meals applications, helping schools to identify their Free School Meal and Pupil Premium entitlement and drive the performance and well-being of disadvantaged students. OFSM reduces free school meal administration. It simplifies the process by removing the paperwork.

Read more here.
 
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I am receiving more and more suspicious emails since the Corona Virus lockdown. What should I do about this?
 
 
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Recent analysis of cyber-crime activity has shown a 30% increase in phishing attacks being circulated in the past 3 weeks. Many of these continue to use content relating to coronavirus as a lure such as fake tax refunds from the government or the offer of protective equipment at rock bottom prices which never arrives.
 
If you receive any phishing messages, please do take a moment to report them – your action could help to protect others from becoming a victim.
 
For Devon schools, where suspicious messages reach your work email address, we urge you to report these by forwarding the messages to our spam mailbox ( spam-mailbox@devon.gov.uk  or spam@mr1.devon.gov.uk).

For further guidance, please see the guidance from Devon County Council https://inside.devon.gov.uk/news/please-report-any-phishing-examples-guidance-for-work-and-personal-accounts/

Any schools not in Devon receiving Phishing emails should refer immediately to their IT Support and Broadband Supplier.

 
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