Spring Census - Thursday 21st January 2010

Notes have been posted to the SIMS Home Page for the latest School Census - click on the links below to read these notes now:

Helpine Census Guidance:

Guidance Notes - Word PDF

DCSF Census Guidance (Select your school type):

Primary - Word PDF

Middle - Word PDF
Special - Word PDF

Nursery - Word PDF

Secondary - Word PDF

Errors & Resolutions 2010:

Errors & Resolutions - PDF

Modes of Transport SIMS Report:

MoT Report File - Rptdef

MoT How to import the report - PDF

COLLECT site:

Link to COLLECT site - Click Here

Notes on how to use COLLECT site - PDF

If you have any queries, please contact the helpline on 0845 045 0973, or email ict.helpline@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

School Census - SIMS crashes when running Create & Validate

FOR CENTRAL HOSTING SCHOOLS ONLY

If SIMS.net crashes out when you run Create & Validate on your Spring Census, you will need to do the following:

1. Log back into SIMS.net.

2. Click on Tools, Setups, Import Fileset.

3. Click on the small yellow folder on the right to choose the fileset.

4. In the File Name box, type the following:

f:\sims

5. Click on Open.

6. Open the folder called ManifestFiles.

7. Choose the following fileset:

0021-SchoolCensusSpring2010Fileset

8. Click on Open, then Import Fileset.

9. Run the Create & Validate again in your Census and it should run successfully.

If you have any queries, please contact the helpline.

FMSIS Audit Information

For those schools who will be undergoing their FMSIS Audit, the following document will provide relevant information on the data security that our service provides.

Click here to read more.

This and other documents can be found on the SIMS Home Page.

CENTRAL HOSTED - Schools Remote Access Service – Performance Issues

Schools Remote Access Service: Notification of Downtime 10.00 - 17.00 Friday 15th January 2010

Following on from the notification schools received last week of issues with the Schools Remote Access Solution, the new equipment has now been delivered and will be installed on Friday 15th January. The work will be undertaken during the day when the fewest users will be affected and is expected to take from 10am to 5pm to complete.

If you missed the original message, it is appended below for completeness.

IMPORTANT: CENTRAL HOSTED - Schools Remote Access Service – Performance Issues
Purpose: Update on the recent performance issues with Remote Access
Audience: All School Staff using Remote Access

Please ensure this newsletter is passed to any members of Staff using Remote Access
The secure remote access for staff and pupils the ICT service has provided for over 2 years has deteriorated over the last month. This has been caused by failure of equipment and software provided by Barracuda Networks.

In the short term we are implementing new equipment from the supplier and improving monitoring systems which should have the effect of restoring the previous good levels of service. The process of commissioning this will take a day and will take place during the working day (when remote access is least used).

Due to problems with the weather, this equipment will not be delivered until next week at the earliest. We will advise schools when we have a definite delivery date and when the equipment will be commissioned.

The ICT Service apologises that the standard of the remote access service has fallen below acceptable levels and we are working hard to restore service levels and improve on the current system. With that in mind and looking to the future, we are exploring alternative solutions which will be more robust and more flexible.