Manual Migration FAQs

Please note the following can vary for a GroupCall API migrator, we are working on adding the GroupCall Migrator specifications to this guide. If you need to raise any data discrepancies post migration please contact Arbor support or your dedicated partner and we will be advised of the next steps.

What is a Manual Migration?

A manual migration is completed when a school is moving to Arbor from a system that we can not pull the data from automatically. The process involves your Project Team adding data directly into a blank Arbor site.

Why can’t Arbor import the data for us ?

Due to the significant difference in how data is stored in your current MIS and how it will be stored in Arbor, currently, there is no migration tool for it.

What are Entity Importers?

Entity Importers are templates that can be downloaded from your own Arbor site so you can input data and import it into your site in bulk. Please take a look at our guide here on how to access them and a step-by-step of how to do this.

Do I have to input historical attendance?

You’ll need to input the historical attendance data required for the census. There is an Entity Importer Tool available in your Arbor MIS, which you can download, populate with historic attendance data and re-import into Arbor. Click here to read more about the Entity Importers. Please note: You'll need to request this attendance data from your old MIS provider to import into Arbor after your last day of term on your old MIS.

How do I import a CTF?

Please see this article for exact instructions on how to import a CTF. To understand what a CTF is and what information will transfer to Arbor on a CTF please see the DFE' guidance here. Please note that the information transferred will depend on how it has been stored at individual schools.

How can I edit the information uploaded via Entity Importers?

If you are migrating your data mid-year, we recommend you don’t upload the entity importer templates until just before your Go Live; however, if you have done this before last-minute changes are made to the data you can always edit directly in Arbor. Please don’t attempt to re-upload the templates with edits as this will lead to duplicate information.

What is a third party and which ones does Arbor connect with?

A third party is another piece of software that Arbor can connect with to allow data to transfer between the two systems, please see this list from the Help Centre - Arbor's Third-Party API Integrations to check out the companies we can integrate with and how the connection works.

What information can different members of staff see on Arbor?

You can access a full list of Business roles and the permissions they hold by going to School > Users & Security select Business Roles on the left-hand side and then select the download button. This will then generate a spreadsheet of all of the business roles and permissions that are assigned to them.

If I’ve entered a staff member manually and also added on the template will the site recognise this and merge? 

The staff member will come across a duplicate, please remove from the template.

Can we bring student profile pictures across to Arbor?

We have a helpful guide on our Help Center to help with the process of getting these uploaded onto your site - Uploading and downloading photos.

How do staff log in for the first time?

Firstly, you will need to ensure that every staff member has a school email address and Business role to allow them to access the site. When ready, you can share the URL with your team who will then select the ‘First Time Logging In’ button and can set their own password.

How can I make sure I'm Census ready when also moving to Arbor?

For those schools moving to Arbor over the Christmas break Census will occur pretty soon after go live. To make sure you have all the information you need, please see this guide.

How can I update pupil enrolment dates for Census after importing CTFs

Once CTF's are imported you can request a script to be run by the Arbor Team, this will update pupils' enrolment dates that are required for this year's census, but it won't update any previous year groups. If your school would like to update previous years you will need to do this manually on the student profile. Once you have uploaded CTFs and need enrolment dates amending, please content myonboarding@arbor-education.com 

How do I ensure registers are only created on Arbor from my Go Live date when migrating mid-year?

After you have scheduled registration sessions you should then go into 'timetable slots' and change the effective dates so that the start date is your Go Live date and the end date is the last day of the school year.