FMS Wire – Edition 7

Supplier NewsletterThis article sits within the Supplier Newsletter section

FMS Wire – Edition 7

August 2025

Dear FMS partner,

This edition focuses on the information you need to be aware of for automating your clients/trusts account return (AR) 2024/25.

We apologies for the delay in sending this update, we have had to spend more time than expected in ensuring the information we are providing to you is correct.

Firstly, please can we alert you to the following recent updates:

Guide for software integration with automation API v7.1 (Dev guide): We have updated the guide from version 7.0 to version 7.1 to amend a table under the ‘Production environment’ heading on page 44. Version 7.0 contained the incorrect environment URL’s which have now been updated. This is the only change.

This has not yet been updated on Gov.uk as it takes some time to gain authorisation, therefore please review the latest version on our help centre.

Academies chart of accounts v7.6.2: The academies chart of accounts (CoA) has been updated to the final version of 7.6.2 which can also be found on our help centre. As long as you are using a version that begins with 7, it will work as the mapping is all processed by the DfE.

Getting automation ready AR 2024/25

Check you have the correct people set up with the test accounts. The 3 test accounts which were issued to each FMS provider within the last year are still live.
Renew your client secret ID, this lasts for 2 years but we recommend renewing annually, see page 14 of the Dev guide for details on how to do this.
Ensure your system are using the correct URLs provided in the environments pages 42 to 44 and also page 70 of the Dev guide, Please note URLs have not changes since last year
Ensure your system are linking through to a version 7.X.X of the academies CoA as mentioned above (v7.6.2 being the latest)
Test using the credentials that were sent for the 23/24 return
Let us know when you will be ready to attend the pre-go-live confidence demo meeting so that we can arrange in plenty of time before the AR form goes live on the 16th September.

Pre go-live confidence demo meetings

These meetings will be arranged for a time when you have completed your development updates for the 2024/25 AR and tested that data can be sent through to the DfE and will therefore cover :

A demo of your test data showing the movement of automated data between yourselves and a test trust
How your product ensures the trust type (MAT/SAT) is correct before data is sent 
How you manage error reporting
Confirmation that you have updated your client secret ID
Confirmation of helpdesk details of who we can get in touch with about trust issues when the AR form is live
Plans for any marketing you will be undertaking to increase the number of trusts using automation (we welcome the opportunity to be invited to any joint webinars that you may wish to run 😊)

Summary of timelines and actions required:

Time line / milestone	FMS provider action	DfE Action
1st August		Sending FMS Wire to communicated final URL’s and timeline for the AR automation process 24/25
August	Check your contact details and update the DfE including help desk contact, please see message sent 2nd July Check you have the correct people set up with test accounts Renew your client secret ID, this lasts for 2 years but we recommend renewing annually, see page 14 of the Dev guide Ensure you are using the correct URLs provided, see pages 42 to 44 and also page 70 of the Dev guide Update the version number of the CoA to V7.X.X (7.6.2) being the altest) Test using the credentials that were sent for the 23/24 return	Contact you to arrange a date for a confidence demo to check you can send automated data from your software through to the AR form Prepare comm’s and lists of trusts for targeted messaging including Automation checklist to trusts with trust references E-mail FMS providers with lists of trusts who have previously automated and who say they want to automate
Late August / early September	Supplier confidence meetings prior to ‘go live’ on 16th September.
16th September 2025 – AR Form goes live	We advise working with at least one of your trusts early to ensure they are able to send data to the AR in the live environment as early as possible after the go live date.
September 2025 to January 2026– AR form live period	Encouraging and supporting your clients to use automation by:- Targeting marketing to those clients/trusts who have automation capability Easy help desk access Training materials Leading joint demo’s with DfE	Encouraging and supporting trusts to automate by: Sending out targeted comm’s to trusts who have automated before or shown an interest Offering 1-2-1 session with new automating trusts Automation several webinars/demo’s Drop in sessions
27th January 2026 – AR form deadline	AR submission deadline. We know that trusts who use automation do not leave it late, so early encouragement is essential.
February 2026 / March 2026	Retro meetings to discuss what went well, what can be improved from the DfE and FMS provider perspective, and feedback from trusts completing the post automation survey.
February 2026 to April 2026	Send client lists	Collate FMS market information

Last updated on 01 August 2025 07:19

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