Census Summary Inspection

The article provides a detailed guide on how to access and inspect the Census summary in Arbor without downloading a PDF. It outlines the steps to view the Census summary, the limitations on data reporting set by the DfE, and the various tables included in the summary, which cover school characteristics, pupil demographics, funding, attendance, and special educational needs. It also offers tips for ensuring accurate data representation and troubleshooting common issues.

You can view and check your Census summary live without having to download a pdf format.

Go to School > Data > Export > Data Returns. Click the Census, then select the most recent generation.

On the Census page click on the bottom green DfE Census Summary Inspection button on the right-hand side.

This will display your Census Summary online, in Arbor.

• The tables that appear here are set by the DfE. As such we aren't able to add additional columns.
• The DfE may not want MIS's to report on certain data points in the summary inspection, even if they are output in the census file. An example of this is National Tutoring Programme funding.

Top tip: If you change your school phase in School > School Details, the census summary inspection will no longer be available to view and download. You would need to either change your school phase back, or regenerate your census.

By clicking on any orange number you can view the data behind the figure. Please note that it isn't possible to print these lists, but you could screenshot or copy the lists into a document to print.

If you notice that any information on the Summary Inspection is not appearing as expected, please first ensure that you regenerate your census to make sure that the information is up to date and accurately reflecting the information in your school site.

Table 1 - School Characteristics

This table lists the basic details of your school, and this is derived from the information found in School > School Details. If you have any concerns about the details listed here, please refer to the Get Information About Schools website, or contact the DfE directly.

Table 2 - Pupils on Roll by Age and Sex (All Schools)

This information is in regards to the age of full time students on the 31st of August in the previous year. While this is documented on census day, it is not intended as a reflection of their age as of the date of the census.

For example, in the May 2024 summer census, if a student has a date of birth of 29/04/2021, they will appear as two or under in this table, as they were this age on 31/08/2024. 

Table 3 - Pupils on roll in each national curriculum year group by enrolment status (All schools)

This table shows the students who are in each year group on the day of the census. If a year group is incorrectly showing as having no students in it, make sure to check the Curriculum grade for the year group in Students > Enrolment > Year Groups.

Table 4 - Pupils on roll by their first language ALL schools

This information is derived from the Native Language of a student, found in the Language Abilities section of the student profile. For more information on adding native languages or recording EAL for a student, see our guidance here.

Table 5 - Specific types of pupils on roll ALL schools

This table contains demographic details in your school site that are not covered in their own specific tables for the summary inspection. Please note that this table is specifically looking for the post Looked After students, rather than students who currently have a Looked After status.

Table 6 - Funded, extended and expanded childcare hours for pupils on roll aged 2, 3 and 4 years (Not for: Non-maintained special schools and city technology college)

This table covers the funding hours for early-years students in your school. You can record student funding hours by going to Students > All Students > Bulk Update and then click either Bulk Update Funded Hours or Bulk Update National Tutoring Programme Hours depending on the funding you need to record. For more information on how to add funding hours, see our article here.

Table 7 - Early years pupil premium - Nursery schools (For: schools with phase 'NS' only, used for funding)

This table shows the number of students who are and are not in receipt of early years pupil premium funding. If your school does not have the phase set to Nursery (see the Phase field in School > School Details) then this table will not appear on your census.

Table 8 - Early Years Pupil Premium (Not for: Nursery, used for funding)

This table details your pupil premium funding. If you have the School Phase set as Nursery (Check this in School > School Details), then you will not see this table in your census. 

Table 9 - School childcare All Schools

This table contains the details for any childcare recorded at your school for non-guest students only. The information in this table is only collected at the beginning of the year, and so it will only appear in the January census. For more information on recording childcare for the census, see our guidance here.

Table 10 - Pupils on roll with SEN provision ALL schools 

This table details your SEN provisions in the school. You can check the details for your SEN students in Students > Demographics & Educational Needs > Students With SEN > Students With SEN.

Table 11 - SEN type need for pupils on roll with SEN (SEN provision E or K)

This table shows the list of SEN needs and how many students these apply to. For more information on adding SEN/EHCP needs for a student, see our article here.

Table 12 - Number of suspensions and permanent exclusions by SEN provision in the autumn and spring terms (terms 1, 2, 3 and 4) (Not for: Nursery school)

This table show the number of suspensions and permanent exclusions recorded against students with SEN needs. Only students with SEN needs during the date range advised in the top column will be included in this table.

Table 13 - Attendance information for the (current) term for all pupils aged between 5 and 15 years

This table shows the standard attendance information for your school-age students. Depending on the time of year that you are completing your census, the date range for this table changes, and the relevant date is included in the table's title.

Table 14 - Attendance information for the (current) term for all pupils aged 4 years as at (end of previous academic year)

This table shows the standard attendance information for students who turned four years old on or before 31/08 of the previous academic year. Any students who turned four after this date are not included in the table.

Table 15 - Attendance by reason for the (current) term for all pupils between 4 and 15 years as at 31/08/2023 (Not for: Nursery school)

This table shows the codes that have been used to record attendance for school-age students. This table is not used by schools with their Phase set to Nursery (see the Phase field in School > School Details to check your school phase).

Table 16 - Alternative Provisions placements for single registered pupils by reason (PRU/AP only)

This table denotes the reason for alternative provisions. This is only used for schools with their phase set to AP/PRU and no others. See our article here on recording alternative provision details for students.

Table 17 - School arranged Alternative Provision placements within the census period (Not for: Nursery schools)

This table shows the alternative provision placements between the last census day and the current census day. It will display information about alternative provision placements where the end date falls into this period, or if the end date is blank.

Table 18 - Admission appeals (Not for: Nursery school, special and PRU) (Note: Primary admissions appeals include Infant admissions appeals)

This table shows the admission appeals recorded by your school. This table is used in your January census only. To see how to log and view your admission appeals, see our article here.

Table 19 - Classes as taught at the school's selected time (For: primary only)

This table denotes the primary school classes that are taught at the time that your census is being recorded. To see when your census time is, you can check in either the Pupil Reconciliation or the Classes section found on the left side of the page when you are viewing your census. This table appears in the January census only.

Table 20 - Classes as taught at the school's selected time (for: middle-deemed primary and middle-deemed secondary only)

This table shows the classes that are being taught in your middle school at the time that your census is being recorded. To see when your census time is, you can check in either the Pupil Reconciliation or the Classes section found on the left side of the page when you are viewing your census. This table appears in the January census only.

Table 21 - Classes as taught at the school's selected time (for: secondary only)

This table shows the classes that are being taught in your secondary school at the time that your census is being recorded. To see when your census time is, you can check in either the Pupil Reconciliation or the Classes section found on the left side of the page when you are viewing your census. This table appears in the January census only.

Table 22 - Classes as taught at the school's selected time (for: all-through only)

This table shows the classes that are being taught in your secondary school at the time that your census is being recorded. To see when your census time is, you can check in either the Pupil Reconciliation or the Classes section found on the left side of the page when you are viewing your census. This table appears in the January census only.

Table 23 - Pupil reconciliation (not for: nursery school, special and PRU)

This table contains your school's reconciliation data and is derived from the Reconciliation page in your school census. To see this data, click the Pupil Reconciliation option on the left side of the page when viewing your census.

Table 24 - unlawful infant classes - number of reported exceptions by category (for: Primary and all-through with appropriate pupils)

This table shows the recorded exceptions for classes that are otherwise above the limit of students allocated to a member of staff. If you have classes that are abnormally large for any reason, see our guidance here on how to report the reason. 

Table 25 - Universal infant school meals All schools - with appropriate students

This table shows the meals recorded on your census day, and how many students are eligible for FSM on the census day. To see more information on meals in your census, click the Meals option on the left side of the page when viewing your census.

Table 26 - Learner support (bursary funding for 16/19 year olds) (Not for: nursery, primary or middle-deemed primary)

This table lists the bursary funding for students aged between sixteen and nineteen as of the date provided in the top-left of the table. For more information on recording bursary, see our article here.