Navigating the allocation engine

Navigating the allocation engine

After accessing the allocation engine you will have available the following three views:

1. Review / Commit Allocations: Tabular view of each child's score, preferences and the  allocation engines recommendation
2. Chart View: Graphical view of each child's score, preferences and the  allocation engines recommendation
3. Table View: Tabular view of the service / programs suggested, allocated and vacancies (totalling to the available capacity)

To view the Recommendations of the engine select Review / Commit Allocations

Parameters

The parameters are used to define which children you would like to consider for allocation and the approach that the engine should take. Please note that changing the parameters will recalculate recommended allocations

• Care Period: The current year and upcoming year will be available for selection
• Program Type: 3 Year Old Kindergarten or 4 Year Old Kindergarten will be available for selection (1) 
• Allocation Step: Program (default) or Service will be available for selection. Dependent on your individual approach to allocating children, you may have a need to only ever utilise one of these options. 
• Allocation Method: This is used to determine the approach that should be taken when allocating children who have the same score and have submitted the same preferences
  • Ballot: use a random ballot process for allocations
  • Date: use a "first in best dressed" approach for allocating children with equal scores. 
• Type: used to select whether All allocations should be considered, or only New Allocations (not currently allocated anywhere) or Transfer requests (2)

Filters and Sorts

The Filters and sorts can be used to change the display of recommended allocations. Please note that changing the sort or applying a filter will not cause a recalculation of recommended allocations. Sorts or filters simply change or reduce the number of children in view. 

• Sort: all fields can be sorted in ascending or descending order by hovering over the table header and clicking the arrow for a given field
• Filter: all fields can be filtered by either entering a value (eg. a child's name) or by selecting one of the options available in the filter lost

Allocation Engine Actions

• Override recommended allocations by selecting an alternative allocation in the Achieved column. Note, you will only be able to override the allocation where capacity is available.  
• Select Children or Select all children in view in preparation for allocation:  
• Commit Allocations: using this button will bulk allocate all selected children in the current view 
• Export as csv: this will initiate a download which will include a tab for each of the 1. review / Commit Allocation tab 2. table View 3. a detailed list of the children who are included in the chart view components