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Help using DfE Sign-in

Guidance, tips and articles to help you use DfE Sign-in.

Help: Get more information about the move to DfE Sign-in

Here are some common questions related to move to DfE Sign-in.

  • Why the change is happening?

    You currently sign in to your service with the IDAMS/Pirean sign in system. The DfE will no longer support this system by mid-2024. DfE Sign-in will replace this.

    It is the new way to sign in. You will be given a DfE Sign-in account. DfE Sign-in enables you to access multiple organisations from one account. The service you use will not change, only the way you sign in.

    Updated October 2023

  • What will happen?

    Firstly, you will receive an email explaining that the way you access your service is changing.

    Soon after this, if you already have a DfE Sign-in account, you will receive an email to let you know a new service has been added to your account.

    If you do not currently have a DfE Sign-in account, you will receive an email inviting you to set one up. You will verify your email and create a password.

    You will then receive an email confirming a new service has been added to your account.

    If you are having problems getting emails from DfE Sign-in, check your spam or junk folder.

    Updated September 2022

  • When the change is happening?

    We are gradually moving services from the IDAMS/Pirean sign in system to DfE Sign-in. This process will be completed by mid-2024.

    We will notify you by email when your service is being moved to DfE Sign-in.

    You should continue to use your current username and password and access the service as you normally would until we notify you.

    Updated October 2023

  • Your permissions on DfE Sign-in

    We will transfer your existing roles and permissions to DfE Sign-in. As we do this, some of your permissions might change.

    You will be able to do all the same things you used to do, however you might also have access to new 'approver' permissions that you did not have before.

    During the migration, if you are currently an approver in DfE Sign-in you may notice an increase in users having approver permission levels because of this.

    As your DfE Sign-in account gives you access to multiple organisations in one place, you may also see your organisations being added to your account.

    Updated September 2022

  • Being an approver?

    An approver is someone with the highest permission level in DfE Sign-in. You might know this as being a Super User. As an approver you will be able to:

    • approve or reject requests to join your organisation
    • give access to services and forms
    • manage the permission levels of users at your organisation
  • You can find more information about changing user permission levels on the DfE Sign-in ‘Help’ section. Once your account has been migrated, you will need to use your DfE Sign-in email and password to access this guidance.

    • Updated April 2023

  • Signing in with an email instead of a user ID

    If you currently sign-in using your user ID, you will now need to use your email address instead. A user ID will look like ISP-example and your email address will look like name@example.com.

    You will need to have the same email address in IDAMS and DfE Sign-in, in order for your account to be moved to DfE Sign-in. Update your email address in IDAMS.

    To access your DfE Sign-in account, enter your email address on the forgotten password page and follow the instructions.

    Updated February 2024