ILR Data Quality

The information authority's project to improve and support data quality in the 2009/10 ILR collections is gathering pace, with commitment to a joint programme of work from both the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the Data Service.

Quality standards have already been published as Appendix P of the 2009/10 ILR Specification. The joint programme is curently being rolled out, and includes a number of initiatives to give providers the support, tools and capabilities needed to meet these standards.

These include:

• Introduction of a Data Quality Framework 
• A complete overhaul of provider support manuals.
• A targeted training programme aimed at new providers, specific 2009/10 changes and areas of particular concern to providers.
• The promotion of the information authority's community portal, feconnect, to share good practice, including provider case studies, 'hot seat' interviews, online data quality seminars, and FAQs.
• The expansion of the Data Self-Assessment Toolkit (DSAT) as a tool for providers to manage and monitor data quality when preparing an ILR return.
• The enhancement and extended use of the Credibility Reports as a tool for both providers and the Data Service to manage longer-term improvement of data quality.
• Work to ensure data quality is at the centre of the 2009/10 systems change process and the migration of data in preparation for the new collection cycle.

To find out more about the work on improving ILR data quality, please contact Peter Millard.