EdIS Services - Frequently Asked Questions

The EA has procured the Bromcom one-stop-shop licence for all schools in Northern Ireland. This includes a broad range of modules and functionality including additional features such as ‘My Child at School’ which provides extensive parental engagement solutions. 

• Timetabling

Nova T6 will be available for schools to use to create the 2026-2027 timetable model. C2k will continue to provide the 3-day Nova T6 training course from February to April of 2026 for any new timetablers.

On migration the timetable will automatically transfer from SIMS to Bromcom. When your school has been migrated any further timetable changes in Nova T6 can be imported into Bromcom.

EdIS has several experienced timetablers, from a school background, working within timetabling in the SMS Solution. This will ensure that an appropriate timetabling package is available for schools when they begin their work for the 2027-28 timetable. Schools will continue to be supported with training and documentation

• Options 

The EdIS SMS team are working closely with Bromcom to provide software which will support the creation of the most appropriate option blocks based on student choices.

The SIMS Data Migration Preparation Guide which is available on C2k Exchange should be completed in advance of the school live migration.

The majority of data recorded in SIMS will migrate to Bromcom SMS however there are a small number of areas that will not seamlessly migrate. Further advice for schools is included in the SIMS Data Migration Preparation Guide which is available on C2k Exchange. Section 2 of this document outlines the data areas that are out of scope and how these should be dealt with pre-migration. For additional guidance on Assessment please refer to SIMS Assessment and Profiles Pre-Migration Export Tasks on C2k Exchange.

 Please Note: Specific guidance referenced within FAQs is currently targeted towards Primary Schools, additional guidance will be made available for Post Primary and other school types in due course and aligned to rollout dates for each sector.

The rollout for Primary Schools will start after a pilot phase in the first part of 2026.

We will continue implementing Bromcom throughout 2026. We're actively working to determine the Bromcom deployment schedule for Post-Primary Schools, Special Schools and EOTAS. We will keep schools informed of proposed dates as soon as these are known.

Ahead of migration, all schools will receive notice of onboarding at least 10 weeks from the school’s transition date. To ensure a smooth transition for all schools, we have developed the T-minus journey which details the steps and activities leading up to the change. For primary schools this will be a 6-week journey (T-6) and for all other schools an 8-week journey (T-8). Additionally, all schools will also receive four weeks of focused support after their migration to the new service.

Please see the ‘T-Minus Journey’ infographic on C2k Exchange, which outlines the tasks at each stage of the T-minus journey for Primary Schools. A similar process is currently being developed for Post-Primary Schools, Special Schools and EOTAS.

A comprehensive training programme is planned for all schools which includes a blend of in-person and online training courses.  Online courses will also be available as self-serve to enable other staff to upskill and share knowledge throughout the school. The training programme is aligned to the T-minus period for each school and includes online support transition calls which will be available for the SMS Lead to join during the 4 weeks after go-live.

Support resources will be available to schools as they are onboarded, these will be made available in a dedicated School Support Hub.

C2k Exchange and the C2k Media Library will also be packed full of resources to support your staff in their use of the new Bromcom SMS.

The EdIS SMS team work closely with Bromcom to ensure that the system is customised and developed to meet the needs of schools in Northern Ireland and to ensure that functionality is rigorously tested in the existing C2k environments.

Yes, the C2k service desk (08000 931541) and Online Portal will be available to support you with the Bromcom SMS.

Once a school has been scheduled to onboard to the Bromcom SMS they will commence a T-minus process which will provide a number of weeks to carry out preparations in advance of Go-Live.

In-person training is scheduled during this period for nominated individual(s) from the school and a test version of Bromcom (playground database) will be made available to the SMS Lead at this time to assist with familiarisation in advance of the Bromcom SMS Go-Live date. The SMS Lead can provide access to additional staff if required.

Yes. A comprehensive range of online training courses will be available for all staff. Guidance on accessing and completing these courses will be shared as part of each school’s T-minus journey, and support resources will be available on the Bromcom School Support Hub, C2k Exchange and the Media Library.

For further details on the T-minus journey, please see the ‘T-Minus Journey’ infographic on C2k Exchange, which outlines tasks at each stage for Primary Schools. A similar process is currently being developed for Post-Primary Schools, Special Schools and EOTAS.

Only the SMS Lead from your school is required to attend this training. This nominated colleague will be the main user of the SMS on a daily basis. In most schools this is likely to be the school secretary. They are the key representative for the new system and will receive all the essential information needed for go-live. The session is designed specifically for the SMS Lead role.

There is no requirement for additional staff to attend this initial training.

There will be multiple opportunities for all colleagues to learn through:

• Self-register for online courses on eFront.
• Access a range of guides, manuals, and step-by-step instructions available from C2k Exchange.
• Video resources available from the C2k Media Library.
• Access to a standalone Bromcom ‘Playground’ with sample data for practical exploration and learning.

It is advised that sufficient time is allowed for staff to access the training materials as appropriate to their role, to support the wider transition in school. 

All staff will have the necessary access to the new Bromcom SMS and training resources as we move through each phase. While we can’t accommodate everyone who wishes to attend the initial (in-person) training, all staff will still have full access to complete tasks within the system once live.

Yes, Bromcom has developed enhanced functionality within the SEN module to create a PLP for students on the SEN register within the School Management System, this will be available to use once Bromcom is live in your school.

For schools currently recording PLP in SIMS:

• PLP data will migrate from SIMS to the new Bromcom system.
• Schools have existing functionality to generate PLPs from SIMS and save these as a Word document if preferred.

For schools not currently recording PLP in SIMS:

• Schools can choose to start using SIMS for PLP (PLP data will migrate to Bromcom) or continue to use your existing measures for recording SEN information for children/young people either as a school-based IEP or PLP template.

Data recorded in User Defined Fields (UDF) is not in scope for migration. UDFs are not consistently used across all schools. Bromcom SMS includes a wide variety of data fields (such as statutory field for census and data collection). Should schools require to create additional user defined fields this feature is available.

Further advice for Primary schools is included in the SIMS Data Migration Preparation Guide which is available on C2k Exchange and should be completed in advance of the school live migration.

As part of the EdIS Programme, a procurement exercise has begun for replacement solutions for:

• Financial Management for VG/GMI Schools
• Student Fee Billing Management for VG Schools

If successful, an award of contract is anticipated by the end of March 2026. 

An update on procurement planning for a replacement payroll solution will be shared later in the 25/26 academic year. Further information will be shared with schools as we progress.

A complete asset management system was not within the scope of our requirements for a School Management System. However, the Bromcom SMS provides some functionality to book and manage internal resources, rooms, equipment, and facilities. 

The EdIS SMS team are currently working with Bromcom to test this functionality.

Bromcom SMS will integrate with a touch screen and children can register their attendance themselves. Sensitive data is hidden in projector mode and the teacher must enter their pin to return to the normal view.

Yes. Bromcom provides a Teacher App - a mobile application that offers access to essential features, including key tasks such as taking registers.

Please Note: SIMS Teacher App will cease to operate once schools are migrated to Bromcom.  Teachers will be required to onboard and setup the Bromcom Teacher App should they wish to use the mobile app.

Yes, it is possible to record alleged bullying incidents (bullying concerns) in Bromcom and to complete the full Bullying Concern Assessment Form (BCAF).  The EdIS SMS team have worked closely with EA ‘Addressing Bullying in Schools’ Implementation Team to develop all sections of the BCAF in Bromcom, creating one central place to manage bullying concerns.

Digital Assessments to track Literacy and Numeracy are not in the remit of the EdIS Programme. However, the ability to import data from third-party providers is considered and the new system will provide functionality to attach these assessments to the pupil profile within Bromcom SMS.

Bromcom SMS provides the ability for schools to take and maintain a daily school meal register. This functionality is similar to recording attendance.

Yes, this functionality is available in the Bromcom SMS which has powerful functionality to record and track all types of assessment results for all qualification types including numbers, grades and comments. There are built-in functions and formulas which will facilitate normal day-to-day data capture, together with rigorous data analysis across whole-school, cohort groups and individual student levels. Key pastoral factors can be incorporated to inform future actions and outcomes. Assessment templates will be provided by EdIS/C2k so that schools can record and track performance as soon as they are migrated to the Bromcom system. The management of templates and marksheets, including the process of cloning marksheets for each subject, is very efficient within the new system. Data stored in the assessment module can be used to produce reports to parents and these can be stored against the student record and/or shared with parents via MyChildAtSchool.

Please note: The Assessment data currently stored in SIMS will not be transferred to Bromcom. However, prior to migration, schools will be able to export and save marksheets from SIMS. This data can then be imported into Bromcom if required. The EdIS and C2k teams have built templates to enable schools to import assessment data such as standardised test results and these templates will be available in the database as soon as the school moves to Bromcom. Schools are strongly advised to explore the provided templates and determine whether they meet the school needs before creating their own templates. EdIS/C2k will issue further advice and guidance during the T-minus process.

The Bromcom solution allows schools to carry out day-to-day procedures to record staff as absent and allocate cover to supply staff and school staff. Classes can be suspended and staff affected can be made available for cover. There are also extensive reporting capabilities for this area. Training will be provided to those who manage these processes in schools.

Yes, Bromcom SMS allows schools to carry out day-to-day procedures to record staff (teaching and non-teaching) as absent and allocate cover to supply staff and school staff. 

The Bromcom SMS incorporates the My Child at School (MCAS) app. It is highly configurable allowing each school to decide what will be shared with home and it will be available to all schools when they migrate to Bromcom. 

My Child at School is available via an online Parent Portal and is also available as an App from Android and Apple App Stores.

MCAS includes the ability to send push notifications, emails and SMS text messages. SMS text bundles can be purchased directly from Bromcom should schools wish to use this feature. Further details on this will be available within the training and go-live support sessions. 

Please Note: SIMS Parent App will cease to operate once schools are migrated to Bromcom. It is recommended that schools using SIMS Parent App onboard parents to (My Child at School) MCAS as soon as possible after their go live on Bromcom. Schools should also notify parents regarding the change of parental engagement solution.

Extensive resources to support MCAS will be available to schools as they commence their T-minus journey.

Schools can collect pre-admission data by providing parents with a login to the MCAS (My Child at School) portal or app. This enables all their data to be populated online and facilitates schools engaging with prospective parents.

Bromcom provide ‘Parents Evening’ as part of the standard package being introduced for schools. This is an online booking system and it can automatically create Teams or Google meetings if required. Parents can book appointments through the parent portal or app.

The EdIS SMS team are currently working with Bromcom to test this functionality in the existing C2k environments.

Bromcom will not have online payments included when implemented in NI schools. However, it does remain within the scope of the EdIS Programme to provide an online payment solution to all schools. This project is currently in review and if we are able to proceed, a separate procurement process will be required. This will be open to all suppliers in the market. 

We will keep schools informed on progress in this area but cannot currently give any timelines. 

Bromcom have many existing third-party technical partners and integrate with many applications. This includes integration using middleware providers such as Wonde or Groupcall.  Guidance relating to third-party integration will be available to schools in the School Support Hub as they commence their T-minus journey. 

Bromcom are aware of many integrations required by schools. In advance of the change from SIMS to Bromcom, schools should ensure that they have completed and submitted to C2k an integrations questionnaire to confirm which third-party applications they currently integrate with SIMS.

Bromcom will work with schools to agree how these third-party applications can be connected. For new purchases, schools can check Bromcom trusted partners list. 

If you wish to procure a new online payment solution, please contact the EA Commercial Procurement Team for advice and guidance at procurement@eani.org.uk.

Bromcom have many existing third-party technical partners and integrate with many applications. This includes integration using middleware providers such as Wonde or Groupcall.  Guidance relating to third-party integration will be available to schools in the School Support Hub as they commence their T-minus journey. 

Bromcom is aware of many integrations required by schools. In advance of the change from SIMS to Bromcom, schools should ensure that they have completed and submitted to C2k an integrations questionnaire to confirm which third-party applications they currently integrate with SIMS.

In relation to third-party applications that your school has implemented, please be aware that moving an existing integration or setting up a new integration with Bromcom may result in charges from certain third‑party suppliers. Any costs associated with third‑party applications, services, or integration work remain the responsibility of the school. Schools should contact their third‑party providers directly to confirm any potential fees before proceeding or for other options for connection and data extraction.

Many schools will see out their existing contracts and utilise more of the inbuilt Bromcom functionality over time. This is where the cost savings will most be noticed and schools can maximise the value of Bromcom SMS. Regardless of this, there is always the option of schools keeping their favourite third-party systems as they prefer.