Latest News
March board meeting - outcomes
The information authority board met on 03 March 2010 for its quarterly meeting.
The Chairman, Graham Jones, welcomed new board members Ruth Curry from BIS and Julie Nugent from the Skills Funding Agency. Graham also introduced the new Head of
the information authority, John Perks, to everyone.
The agenda included updates on:
· current plans for Framework for Excellence,
· progress on the Learner Data Strategy;
· changes to the specification of LLUK’s Individualised Staff Record (ISR) collection and demonstration of their new OLAP tool
· progress to develop a standard Connexions data set and centralised collection point for Connexions data
The secretariat also sought permission to draw up a proposal that would allow a ‘window’ to be built into the deadline for submission of the final ILR data return (F05), which would allow providers to rectify genuine administration errors. The board agreed that we could develop such a proposal.
One of the main items of business at the meeting was the consideration of two late ILR change requests, which had been submitted by the Skills Funding Agency. In brief these were to:
a) Enable the Skills Funding Agency to identify large employers so that their funding could be implemented at a lower rate - the board agreed that an automated solution should be sought long-term by linking the employer identifier field in the ILR to link to a database of large employers, but that as a temporary solution, the Skills Funding Agency should supply providers with a list of large employers.
b) Allow volunteer providers to send data for unfunded apprentices - this work is still at an early stage, and a long-term solution is to consider the change as part of the change request process for 2011/12 with a view to implementing the solution in 2011/12.
The board also agreed that whilst late ILR change requests would only be considered in exceptional circumstances, we should still seek to document the process used to assess such requests (that is, any requests which are received outside of the normal submission and consultation timetable.) Board members said that they would particularly welcome an ‘at a glance’ supporting document being tabled at meetings when late changes are being considered, which more clearly states the risks associated with approving, or refusing a late request.
The information authority board meets four times a year – for more information and dates of the meetings, see our board meetings page.
