What to expect: Your onboarding process for primary schools

This guide is designed for primary and middle schools who are onboarding to Arbor with using the Digital Onboarding process. It outlines the key stages and support you will receive during your 8-week onboarding process

Transitioning to a new MIS is a significant step, and at Arbor, we're here to make your move as smooth as possible. This guide provides a high-level overview of the onboarding process, designed for primary schools, detailing what to expect and how our team will support you every step of the way.

What is the onboarding process for a primary school

Your onboarding journey to Arbor is a structured process, typically spanning 8 weeks, with a focus on preparing your school for a successful "Go Live". This will begin on your 'kick off' date which should have been discussed with your Partnership manager. This journey is designed to ensure your data is accurately migrated, your staff are trained, and your new Arbor MIS is configured to meet your school's daily operational needs.

The process can be broadly divided into distinct phases:

1. Kick-Off & Initial Setup (Week 1): Your journey starts with a kick-off video that introduces your dedicated onboarding team, explains the process, and highlights available support and training. This is when you'll get your migration pack or onboarding workbook – your essential guide – and gain access to the Arbor Training Hub.
2. Migration Prerequisites (Weeks 2-3): These weeks are crucial for setting the stage for your data migration. You'll focus on cleansing your data (a non-negotiable step!), agreeing to Arbor's terms and conditions via a secure portal, and if migrating via SIMs, setting up Groupcall Xporter on Demand. This is vital for Arbor to pull your data correctly. You'll also need to contact any third-party applications you use to let them know about your move to Arbor and your Go Live date.
3. Data Migration & Final Checks (Week 4): This is Migration Week! Arbor will begin the process of transferring your data to your new MIS. Your main focus will be to confirm that your team is trained and ready for day one, your third-party providers are aware, and your data cleansing is complete.
4. Go Live – Your First Day with Arbor! (Week 5): This is your official Go Live day! You'll receive a 'site release email' with instructions on how to log in to your new Arbor MIS. Your first key action will be to take attendance in Arbor. Critically, you must verify your migrated data to ensure accuracy.
5. Post-Live Configuration & Handover (Weeks 6-8): In the weeks following Go Live, your focus will be on signing off your data migration report once you're confident in its accuracy. You'll continue to configure Arbor to your school's specific requirements and complete any remaining training. By the end of Week 8, your onboarding will conclude, and the Digital Onboarding Team will hand you over to your Customer Success Manager for ongoing support.

Next Steps

Your Partnership Manager should have already told you when your onboarding journey starts. Your onboarding team will reach out to you on your planned start date to detail your next steps. If you would like to understand your onboarding journey in more detail, we have week by week guides that explain what to expect during your onboarding:

• Primary Week by Week Onboarding Guide (SIMs Schools)
• Primary Week by Week Onboarding Guide (Non SIMs Schools)

Contacting your onboarding team

Your onboarding team are happy to go through any questions you have regarding your move to Arbor. Please email them at myonboarding@arbor-education.com. The team are happy to speak to you on the phone if you have a complex query or would prefer to speak to someone directly. Please just mention on your email that you'd like them to call you back.