Quick definitions for MIS entries, attendance abbreviations, study terms, payments, messages and staff access.
Looking for abbreviation meanings, study terms or what an MIS entry means? Use this quick reference for labels in the Unique Schools staff dashboard. Select a topic below, or use your browser’s Find on Page to look for a term.
Read the label in context. A request status, app-registration status and attendance mark describe different things. Date filters, the Academic Year and staff permissions can also affect what you see.
Registration & access
Term
What it means
2FA
Two-factor authentication. An extra identity check when signing in; the dashboard has a 2FA area for managing verification devices.
OTP / OTP Report
One-time passcode. A time-limited code used to verify a mobile number during registration. The OTP Report helps authorised staff support users who have not received it. Codes are private.
App User / Non-App User
Registration filters in the student list. App User is registered as an app user; Non-App User is not. A student record can exist before app registration.
Access & Permissions
Controls which school tools and student groups a staff member can access. Check staff permissions.
Type 1, Type 2, etc.
In Year Head access, the number identifies the year: 1 = Year 1, 2 = Year 2, and so on. The separate Attendance type gives access across all years/classes.
Academic Year
The school year selected on the screen. Check this and the date filters if expected records are missing. It is not the same as a payment item’s Financial Year.
Students & MIS records
Term
What it means
MIS
Management Information System. The school’s system for student and related school records, such as VSware or Tyro.
MIS entry / Manage MIS List
An entry is a record in the school’s data, not proof that the person has registered in the app. Manage MIS List is the sidebar label for the student/staff area reached through Administration → Add & Edit Students/Staff.
Sync / integration
The transfer of data between connected systems. What transfers depends on the provider: Tyro and VSware do not supply the same contact details. Follow the instructions for your school’s system.
Active / Exited
Student Record Status. Active means currently enrolled. Exited records are retained and can be found using Show Exited Students; this is different from app-registration status.
Primary / Secondary Guardian
The parent/guardian contact records linked to a student. Guardian unavailable or the missing-guardian banner means staff should check the contact details in the record.
Incoming / Transfer
Year/class options used for incoming students or students transferring to the school before their final year/class is assigned. See Add & Edit Students/Staff.
Student ID (student record)
The identifier entered in the Student ID field when adding a student and shown in the student list. For schools using VSware or Tyro, Unique Schools bases this on the student’s Department/PPOD ID in the school’s MIS. Use that ID from the MIS when adding the student. This is a record identifier, not the student’s digital ID card.
Digital Student ID / Student Id Request
The student’s digital ID card and photo. Student Id Request is where staff review and approve or reject these submissions; it is separate from the Student ID field used when adding a student record. Review student IDs.
Unlock (student ID)
After rejecting an ID, staff use Unlock to let the student correct and resubmit it. Rejecting and unlocking are separate actions.
Attendance & discrepancies
Term
What it means
AM / PM
Morning / afternoon attendance marks shown when comparing school attendance records. The meaning of individual attendance codes depends on your school’s attendance system.
PTL
Permission to Leave. A request for a student to leave school. Approving it is not signing the student out; departure must be recorded separately. PTL guide.
Not Signed Out
The attendance list for following up students whose departure has not been recorded. Check the request and actual departure rather than assuming approval completed sign-out.
ARF / Absence Request Form
The request/form used to obtain a parent or guardian’s explanation for an absence. It is different from a general Note from Parent.
Submitted / Requested (absence status)
Submitted: an explanation has been supplied. Requested: a request has been sent but not completed by the parent/guardian. These describe the note/request, not whether the student was present.
Cum. Days
Cumulative days absent. The current Absent-list tooltip describes the total within the selected date range in the current academic year. Check the range before comparing totals.
Consecutive Days
Absences on consecutive days. The current screen describes the count up to and including today in the current academic year; it is not the same as the cumulative total.
Please Check
A parent’s response to an absence request when they believe the child should be marked present. Staff need to investigate and respond.
Anomaly / Anomalies
A difference between an app-submitted note and the connected attendance-system record. It is a prompt to review, not proof of an error. Review anomalies.
Mark Acknowledged (Anomalies)
Marks the difference as reviewed and removes it from the Anomalies list. It does not correct attendance or message the parent.
Absence Alert
A message about reaching a configured absence-day threshold, such as 10 days. It is different from a daily request asking for an absence explanation.
School Activity / writeback
School Activity is an attendance classification for a school-organised activity. Writeback means sending information back to the connected attendance system; support depends on the integration and configured codes.
Messages & forms
Term
What it means
PN / Send PN
Personal Notification. A message to selected recipients. Send PN opens the messaging action; a PN template is reusable wording. Personal Notifications guide.
News / Notification
News is for stories and achievements; Notifications are for important or time-sensitive announcements. Both are visible to school-app users; push-alert recipients do not restrict who can see the post.
Push notification / SMS
A push notification is an app alert. SMS means Short Message Service: a text sent to a mobile number. They are different delivery channels; SMS may use paid credits.
Note from Parent
A general, non-attendance message to the school. Absence, late arrival and permission-to-leave information belong in the relevant attendance forms.
Consent form / survey / template
A consent form collects permission; a survey collects responses. A template is a reusable starting point, not a completed response. Forms guides.
Payments
Term
What it means
Account Code / Reference Code
Account Code: the school’s accounting code for a payment item. Reference Code: information entered by an Open Payment payer, such as the student’s enrolment application number.
Financial Year
The year a payment item relates to, even if the school collects the money earlier. Check it separately from the dashboard’s Academic Year.
Standard / Variable Amount / Variable Quantity
Standard: a set charge. Variable Amount: the payer chooses the amount. Variable Quantity: the payer chooses how many items, such as tickets.
Open Payment
A shareable link for payments from people not yet added to the app, such as incoming families. It is an item type, not the same as Full Payment. Open Payment guide.
Full Payment / Instalments / Ad-hoc
Full Payment: the amount in one payment. Instalments: scheduled payments. Ad-hoc: payments towards a total over time. See payment setup for the rules.
Balance O/S
Balance outstanding. The amount still owed, not the amount already paid.
Optout / One Per Family
Optout: an option for optional payments that stops that item’s reminders. One Per Family: one charge per family rather than per child; grouping uses the parent’s mobile number.
SEPA DD
Single Euro Payments Area Direct Debit. A direct-debit payment option. Ask your finance lead or support before changing unfamiliar collection settings.
Study terms, detention & teams
Term
What it means
Study term
An Evening Study arrangement with a title, start/end dates, recurring days, time slot and assigned staff. It can contain many dated sessions. Create Evening Study.
Time slot / session / roll
A time slot sets the start/end time. A session is an individual dated meeting. The roll is the attendance record for the students in that session.
Assigned To
The staff member responsible for the study. Any staff member can access any Evening Study session; access is not restricted to the assigned staff member or the person who created it.
Pending / Completed (study sessions)
Session-list filters. To find a roll already taken, choose Completed; a list filtered to Pending will hide it. Evening Study attendance guide.
All Absentee to Next Detention
Moves all students marked absent to the next available detention. It changes assignments, so check the list first. Detention attendance guide.
Fixture / training
A fixture is a scheduled match/event; training is a practice session. Fixture attendance may update the connected school system as School Activity where supported; training attendance is internal only. Team Manager overview.
Still unsure? Email staffsupport@uniqueschools.ie with the exact label and the screen where it appears. Do not include passwords, verification codes or unnecessary student details.