Employers' Guide
Appendix 9 - Common errors on the annual return data
The following are the most common errors when completing annual return data:
- DfE Reference Number - if not known zero fill, do not provide a dummy reference number;
- Part-time salary - this is the amount of salary actually paid in the period, not the annual rate;
- Part-time service details - must always include full-time equivalent salary, part-time salary actually paid and the indicator 7 or 8 for regular or irregular, do not leave fields blank. If no work has been undertaken in any period the total days excluded should be shown;
- Concurrent part-time service - part-time election is required. The service from two contacts should be aggregated into one line of data as outlined in the preceding section, do not provide more than one line of service;
- Changes to personal details - any amendments to names, NI numbers etc must be made through the appropriate medium during the year, not on the annual return;
- Establishment number - correct employment code/school number must be shown. If supply code 0966, then the service must be recorded as part-time, not full-time. The full range of codes is shown in Appendix 2;
- Lines of service - the TP financial year is 1 April to 31 March. Please ensure service details are split at this date. It is also important that lines of service are split to reflect pension elections and salary changes.
- General Teaching Council Fee (£33) – Please ensure that the £33 is added to the annual salary in the period it has been paid.
For example
Teacher employed for whole year on point 9 of the main pay scale at £25,713 pa the service and salary would be recorded as follows:- W00 F 1.4.2002 to 31.3 2003 £25,746
Or if the teacher on point 6 of the main scale receives the standard single point for experience at 1 September the salaries would be recorded as:- W00 F 1.4.2002 to 31.8.2002 £21,624
- W00 F 1 9 2002 to 31.3.2003 £22,806
Teacher newly appointed 1. 9.2002 on the same scale point details would be shown as:- W00 1.9.2002 to 31.3.2003 £25,746
For those teachers in part-time employment the payment should be recorded in full in the full-time equivalent salary rate and included in full in the actual part-time salary paid in the period.
The £33 should not be shown in the other allowances field.
