This article covers the final step of the CFR wizard: generating Interim and Final files. Make sure you have completed header details, balances, income, expenditure and other validation first. For those steps, see:
Prepare To Generate The CFR Return
Before generating a file, confirm:
All Balances are correct.
All Income, Expenditure and Other Validation pages have been reviewed.
All errors are resolved.
Queries have notes recorded where needed.
Then:
In the CFR wizard, click Next until you reach the Generate CFR Return step.
Click Save to make sure your latest changes are stored.
Generate An Interim CFR Return
Use an Interim return as a working draft for internal checking.
On the Generate CFR Return page, click the Interim button (or equivalent labelled option).
Wait for the file to generate.
Open your browser’s Downloads folder to locate the Interim file (Excel format).
Save the file to a shared or secure area if you need colleagues to review it.
📌Note: An Interim file cannot be uploaded to DfE COLLECT, but is useful for internal review and validation.
Generate A Final CFR Return
When you are ready to submit your CFR Return:
On the Generate CFR Return page, click the Final button.
The system generates two files:
An Excel file (for local review or sharing).
An XML file (for uploading to DfE COLLECT).
Check your Downloads folder for both files.
Save them to your secure, shared area.
You can then:
Send the file(s) to your LA if they submit on your behalf, or
Upload the XML file to DfE COLLECT as part of your own submission process.