• Census date – Thursday 1st October 2026 "Snapshot date" 
• Return date – Wednesday 28th October 2026
• Attendance collected From Easter Monday 06/04/2026 to Sunday 04/05/2026 before spring bank holiday, and from spring bank holiday Monday 25/05/2026 to 31/07/2026
• Exclusion data - Suspensions & Permanent  Covers Spring and Summer Term 2026 exclusions: From 01/01/26 to 31/07/26 
• Alternative Provision Placements collected from 21/05/2026 to 30/09/2026
• Funding and Monitoring collected from 01/08/2026 to 01/10/2026
• Learning Aims collected from 01/08/2025 to 01/10/2026
• Free School Meals collected from 22/05/2026 to 01/10/2026
• DfE Guidance and full information can be found here

Free School Meal (FSM) Information and Guidance

You will already be aware there are significant changes to FSM which will affect this census return, because of this we have added a dedicated section to our knowledge base that we can update with any known changes which will affect your school.  

As i type this there are still changes being made to assist schools in reporting, recording and producing accurate targeted and expanded information so please check the dedicated area regularly for updates.   

Official Bromcom guidance - Their census guide includes all the necessary links and detailed instructions on how to navigate the Census area in Arbor - School Census Guide

• For detailed information on all Errors and Queries Click here for their autumn 2026 document.
• Autumn post 16 guide

Watch Webinar Recordings

Click the links below to watch a recording of the Autumn 2025 sessions. Name and email address must be entered to access the recording.

Primary Pre Census Checks 2025

Primary How to Generate a Census 2025

Secondary Pre Census Checks 2025

Secondary How to Generate a Census 2025

Post 16 Learning Aims 2025

Census Reporting see How to View Census Reports

Pupil Premium see How to Manage Pupil Premium Students

Attendance Reporting see How to Access Attendance Analysis Exports and How to Access Attendance Reports

Post-16 Preparation Tasks

How to manage Programme Aims

How to manage Learning Aims

How to set Student Prior Attainment

As always any of our supported schools can call us as often as they need to for help and support with the Census. If this is your first census or you need additional support then please get in touch as soon as possible and we can schedule a remote one-on-one bite-size session with you.

Support@KeystoneMIS.co.uk
01482 238700