Help

Edge tries to open Microsoft documents (e.g. .doc, .docx, .xls. xlsm) via an external MS 'viewer' website ( a 'feature' introduced last year at some point).

Rather than try and download the document or open it on a local application, it tries to view it online by redirecting it to a MS website (https://view.officeapps.live.com/) but as that website doesn't have access permission to restricted documents on the Grid, it ends up displaying login/error messages when a user tries to access restricted documents. 

We do advise you use Chrome or Firefox to use the Grid but if you have to use Edge then follow the instructions which should fix the issue.

1. Go to the Edge browser settings by clicking on the 3 horizontal dots on the top right hand side of the browser ribbon.

2. Select Settings > and choose Downloads from the menu list on the left.

3. Select the options below to be On/Off as below.

Ask me what to do with each download - SWITCH OFF

Always ask me if I want to save a file or open it without saving

Open Office files in the browser - SWITCH ON

If this setting is on, Office files (presentations, spreadsheets, documents) will open automatically in Microsoft Edge instead of downloading to your device

Show downloads menu when a download starts  - SWITCH ON

Turning off this setting can make it harder to know when a file starts downloading.

Please contact us using the online chat if you continue to experience problems.

No, you only need to register if you want to access any of the restricted content. Most of the content you can access without registering.

If you are likely to want to access the restricted content at some point, we do recommend that you register in advance in case you need to access this content quickly.

1. Please use one of the following browsers - Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge (Chromium)
2. Click on the Log in option at the top of the Grid home page.
3. On the login page click on the link to ‘register for a login’
4. On the registration page enter your school email address. You must use your school or academy email address to register on the website. The site will not allow you to register with a personal email address. 
   Make sure you enter your email address in all in LOWER CASE.
5. Enter your password which must be a minimum of 8 characters with at least 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase letter, a number/or special character from the following @$!%*?&#£ 
6. Confirm your password and submit.
7. Once your account is created you will be sent a verification email to your school email address. You MUST click on the verification link in the email to enable your account so you can log in to the restricted content.
8. If you don’t receive the email please check your spam or junk email folders. If the email is in your spam or junk folders then please copy and paste the link into your browser to verify it.
9. Your account will be confirmed as verified.
10. You should now be able to log in.
    
    NOTE: To access your school email via the new Grid website - click on Quick Links on the home page and you will find links to Google Mail and Office 365 mail.

Please refer to the user guide:

To access your school email via the new Grid website - click on Quick Links on the home page and you will find links to Google Mail and Office 365 mail.

You can only register with a Hertfordshire school or academy email address not a personal email address. If you are a member of staff at a school you should have a school email address set up. If not please contact your school office to get one set up.

Make sure you are entering your email address in all LOWER CASE.

Make sure the password you have created meets the password rules - it must be a minimum of 8 characters with at least 1 uppercase and 1 lowercase letter, a number/or special character from the following @$!%*?&#£ 

If your school has changed website domain/email address (e.g. to become an academy or part of a MAT) then please notify us as soon as possible via the contact us form so we can enable access for the new domain.

If you don’t receive the email please check your spam or junk email folders. It is possible your school network has blocked the email which comes from the email address donotreply@grid.org.uk.

If the email is your spam or junk folders then please copy and paste the link into your browser to verify it.

There is an option to resend your verification email.

If you continue to have problems please contact us so we can check the status of your account.

Make sure that you have completed your registration fully.

When you register on the website you will see the following message display.

'Thank you. You will shortly receive a verification email with instructions on how to complete your registration so you can log in.'

You need to click on the link in the verification email to complete the registration to enable you to access restricted content.

If you don’t receive the email please check your spam or junk email folders.

If the email is your spam or junk folders then please copy and paste the link into your browser to verify it.

If you are still experiencing problems please contact us via the contact us form  or online chat on the website.

Use the password reset option on the Log in screen.

To reset your password enter your school or academy email address used to register on the website in the box and click submit.

After doing this you will receive an email in that inbox with a link to change your password.

You must create a brand new password following the password rules from the initial registration i.e.
You will need a password length of 8 characters minimum, while also containing:

• At least 1 uppercase letter
• At least 1 lowercase letter
• At least 1 number and/or special character from the following @$!%*?&#£ 

If your browser is set to remember your old password it may show as ********in the new password box and you will need to delete this first before putting in your new password and then update it in the browser when it gives you the option.

If you no longer have access to the email inbox please contact us via the contact us form or online chat on the website.

Check that:

• you are logging in with your school email address not a personal email address
• that you are typing in your email address correctly and it is all in LOWER CASE
• that you are typing in the correct password - use the little eye symbol to show your password to check
• if you have forgotten your password or need to reset it use the forgotten password option on the login page.
• your account will lock after 5 failed attempts and you will need to use the forgotten password option to change your password and unlock your account.

if you are still having problems use the contact us form to notify us and we will check your account details or use the online chat on the website.

Users can use the save password options on their browser but this isn’t recommended on a computer which is shared by a number of people in school.

If you try to reset your password and get the following message

'There was a problem resetting your password'

Make sure you are creating a brand new password following the password rules from the initial registration i.e.
You will need a password length of 8 characters minimum, while also containing:

• At least 1 uppercase letter
• At least 1 lowercase letter
• At least 1 number and/or special character the following @$!%*?&#£ 

If your browser is set to remember your old password it may show as ********in the new password box and you will need to delete this first before putting in your new password and then update it in the browser when it gives you the option.

If you are still having problems use the contact us form to notify us and we will check your account details or use the online chat on the website.

Yes, most of the content on the Grid is public and accessible anywhere, but you can also login to access the restricted content from any location, not just in school. 

The website is designed to be responsive and to work on mobiles and tablets.

If you want to change your password for security reasons then please follow the process for resetting a forgotten password.

Unfortunately not, you will need to re-register using the new school email address.

You can use the same password if you wish although we recommend you change it for security.

Go to the Register page.

Yes you can use an old school email address, but we recommend that you re-register using your new school email address.

Go to the Register page.

If your school has changed its name and its website/email address (e.g. to become an academy or part of a MAT) then please notify us as soon as possible via the contact us form so we can enable user registrations for the new domain.

Staff will also need to register again with their new school email address in order to access the restricted content on the website.

We recommend they choose another password for security.

There is no user account access on the website. The only details held in a user account is your email address and password for log in purposes.

Some content on the Grid is restricted to Hertfordshire schools and academies only.

If you work in a Hertfordshire school or academy you can access the content by registering for an account using your school email address.

If you are already registered on the website then please log in to access the content.

Content on the Grid is restricted usually because it is operational information and guidance for Hertfordshire schools and academies only or is provided as part of a traded service.

Examples are:

Admissions
Covid-19 information
Financial services
Headteacher updates
Health and safety
HCC phonebook
HR payroll and forms
School bulletin
Severe weather procedures ‘snowline’
Staff benefits

If you work in a Hertfordshire school or academy you can access the restricted content by registering for an account using your school email address.

If you are already registered on the website then please log in to access the content.

Are you working at home?

Some HCC systems like Solero, SAP and the HCC phone book may not be accessible if you are working at home.  Even if you are logged in to the Grid website you will not be able to access any Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) systems like SAP, Solero, SeAM, and the HCC Phone unless you ‘remote’ into your school network on your device (using a remote access tool like LARA).

This is because these are external HCC systems that sit outside of the Grid website. They are accessed via links on the Grid but are not actually part of the website. For security reasons HCC only allows access to these applications from authorised school networks.

Has your school changed internet provider recently?

If you are on a school network but still having problems it may be because your school has changed IP provider and will need to inform HCC helpdesk of the change so they can enable access.

What browser are you using?

Some of the HCC systems like SAP also only work using  Internet Explorer (IE) which is an old browser and not compatible with modern websites like the Grid. This means if you are accessing this website in a modern browser like Chrome or Firefox, then you will need to switch to IE to access the HCC system.

SAP, Solero and the HCC phone book can be accessed on the Quick links page.

Only staff in Hertfordshire schools and academies can register to access the restricted content on the Grid.

We are sorry but only Hertfordshire maintained schools and academies are able to access the restricted content on the Grid.

Most of the content on the Grid is public and can be accessed by anyone, however some content is restricted to Hertfordshire maintained schools and academies only.

This content is flagged as ‘Restricted’ and is only accessible by a login.

You can register to access it if you work in a Hertfordshire school or academy.

Most of the information on the Grid website is public so is available for governors to access.

Some content is restricted to staff working in a Hertfordshire school or academy.

If you are a governor or trustee of a school or academy in Hertfordshire and want to access this content then you can register for a login with your governor school email address. if you don't have a school email address, please contact your school and ask them to set one up for you.

You cannot register using a personal email address.

Most of the content on the Grid is public and can be accessed by anyone, however some content is restricted to Hertfordshire schools and academies only. If you are in a Hertfordshire LA nursery school you will be able to register to access this content.

If you are in any of the following then you will only be able to access the public content not the restricted content.

• pre schools
• day nurseries
• childminders
• out of school provision
• family centres

Refer to the user guide on searching the Grid to help you.

Rather than search try using the menu on the home page to navigate to content.

If you can’t find what you are looking for it might be because the information no longer exists on the new Grid website.

Use the contact us form or online chat on the website and we will try to help you or provide a contact for you to follow up.

How to find policies on the Grid

Search by keyword using the term 'model policy'  OR:

Use the 'Advanced Search' option:

• select 'Documents' tab on the blue bar
• select the filter for 'Content type'
• select the filter for 'Model policy'
• select sort by 'newest' above the search results to see the most recently added model policies

This will give you results only for those 'model policies' which can be adapted by schools.

If you want to find other policies available then select the filter for 'Policy' or search using the keyword 'policy'.

There is a page which gives guidance on model and statutory policies on the Grid.

HR policies

You can find policies, procedures and supporting documents such as model policies and templates on the HR portals on the HFL Education website:

HFL Education: HR Services portal - for maintained schools

HFL Education: Academies HR portal - for academies/MATs

If your school buys HR services from HFL Education you will have access to the portal in your school account on the HFL Education website.

If you want to publish some new content or a news item on the Grid please email your request to digital@hfleducation.org in the first instance.

If you have some existing information or a document you want to update on the Grid please email  your request to digital@hfleducation.org in the first instance with the relevant web page address (url).