ILR FAQ's 2008/09

Below are FAQ's for the ILR in 2008/09.  Click on the question below to be taken to the answer, or scroll down the page.

1.    Which ILR form do I use?

2.    How should I code field A14 for employer responsive funded learners?

3.    How do I transfer learners from one ILR return to another?

4.    Why are framework completion codes no longer valid for use in the employer responsive collection?

5.    When is an EDRS number required in field A44?

6.    When should codes 100 and 101 be used in the National learning aim monitoring field, field A46?

7.    How do we record Programme Led Apprenticeships (PLAs)

8.    When do we need a programme aim?

9.    When is the LSC number, field L25 entered in a learner responsive ILR return?

10.    How should a learner who turns 19 during their 2 year programme be coded in field A10?

11.    What should I do if the warning rule violation R25 appears on the LIS validation report?

12.    What is the date of the F01 return for 2008/09?

13.    How do I record QCF unit funding trials through the Adult Learner Responsive model?


1.    Which ILR form do I use?

  • The WBL ILR form has been replaced by the Employer Responsive (ER) ILR Form and can be used for all employer responsive funded learning such as apprenticeships and Train to Gain.
  • Entry to Employment (E2E) learning which was previously included in the WBL collection is now recorded in the learner responsive ILR return. A version of the ILR form has been made available for E2E providers to use for the learner responsive ILR collection.
  • There is not a version of the learner responsive ILR form for other learner responsive provision apart from E2E. Providers should use their own enrollment forms.
  • The ESF SR ILR form can be used by providers who only deliver ESF provision and do not return an employer responsive or learner responsive ILR return.

There is no requirement to use any of the published forms to collect ILR data. Providers can use their own forms if they prefer.

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2.    How should I code field A14 for employer responsive funded learners?
For employer responsive funded provision we would expect to see the following in most circumstances in A14:

For apprenticeships

  • Code 01 – for 16-18 year old learners (fully funded)
  • Code 99 – for learners aged 19+ (not fully funded) – if the employer contribution is collected in full

As apprenticeship learning aims for learners aged 19+ are not fully funded, the LSC expects an employer contribution to be collected in full for these learning aims. However if the provider has agreed to waive some or all of the employer contribution then code 10 should be recorded in field A14.

Code 28 is not applicable under current LSC funding rules.

For Train to Gain (incl NVQs in the workplace previously funded under FE) & any older WBL NVQ only learning aims

  • Code 22 – first full Level 2 learning aims and "Level 3 jumpers" (this includes all of the TtG level 2 aims that started prior to 1 August 08). These are fully funded.
  • Code 24 – first full Level 3 learning aims for learners aged 19-25 where the learner does not already have a Level 3 qualification. These are fully funded.
  • Code 09 – for any Skills for Life aims within Train to Gain. These are fully funded.
  • Code 28 – if the learning aim is fully funded for a reason that is not specified in the code list eg. a fully funded second level 2 qualification.
  • Code 99 – for any learning aims which are not fully funded where the employer contribution is collected in full
  • Code 10 – for any learning aims which are not fully funded but the provider has waived part or all of the employer contribution

For Employability Skills Programme (ESP)

  • code 09 - Skills for Life learning aims
  • code 28 - Employability award

Last updated on 5 January 2009.

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3.    How do I transfer learners from one ILR return to another?

E2E learners and FE funded NVQs for adults delivered in the workplace are funded from a different funding stream in 2008/09.  They should be coded as follows:

  • in the final return of 2007/08 learners should remain coded as continuing.  Do not code as a withdrawal or transfer.  The actual end date field, field A31 should not be completed.
  • return the learners in the first ILR return of 2008/09 - do not change any of the learner's details or learning dates
  • if )possible use the same Learner reference number (L03)
  • it would be helpful to populate the unique learner number (ULN) in the final 2007/08 return as well as the first 2008/09 return to enable easy matching of the learner across the ILR returns
  • for FE funded NVQs from 2007/08 enter code 101 in the National learning aim monitoring field, field A46.

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4.    Why are framework completion codes no longer valid for use in the employer responsive collection?

If the learner has already completed the NVQ in a previous programme or at another provider this does not need to be recorded as a learning aim in the learner’s current programme.  The framework achievement date will be captured on the programme aim in the achievement date field, field A40.

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5.    When is an EDRS number required in field A44?

An EDRS number is required in the employer identifier field, field A44  for all non-apprenticeship employer responsive funded learners who started on or after 1 August 2008.

An EDRS number is not required for learners doing NVQs that were FE funded in 2007/08 and have transferred to the ER funding stream in 2008/09.

Any learners who were TtG funded in 2007/08 should already have an EDRS number recorded and this is still required.

An EDRS number is not required for apprenticeship learners, although providers are encouraged to try and obtain employer numbers for these learners where they can as this significantly increases the value of the data returned in this field. 

From 2009/10 onwards, EDRS numbers will be required for all employer responsive funded learners.

Last updated on 17 December 2008.

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6.    When should codes 100 and 101 be used in the National learning aim monitoring field, field A46?

Code 100 should only be used in field A46, for continuing learners from 2007/08 who were TtG funded (for example, the funding stream field, field A10 was set to 60) in 2007/08.

Code 101 should be used for NVQ learning aims that were FE funded in 2007/08 but are employer responsive funded in 2008/09.

These codes SHOULD NOT be used for any new starters in 2008/09. 

It is important that these codes are used correctly for all continuing learners to allow their remaining on-programme payments to be calculated and paid correctly.

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7.    How do we record Programme Led Apprenticeships (PLAs)

There are two type of PLAs, they are as follows:

a.    Learner responsive funded - where the learner is only doing a technical certificate or key skill which is learner responsive funded and returned on a learner responsive ILR. These would use code 031 in the national learning aim monitoring field, field A46.  Code 99 would be used in the programme type field, field A15, as they are not following the full apprenticeship programme.  No programme aim is required.
 
If these learners become employed and commence the NVQ and the full framework then only the NVQ will be funded via employer responsive funding and recorded in an employer responsive ILR (plus a programme aim).  The key skills and technical certificate will continue to be learner responsive funded and returned in an learner responsive ILR. 

This means the learner will be in both the learner responsive and employer responsive ILRs.  Framework completion is recorded on the employer responsive ILR.

b.    Employer responsive funded - Employer responsive funded -  Where the learner is doing the full framework and receiving employer responsive funding but is unemployed when they start.  These are recorded in the employer responsive ILR return and are coded with 03 in the programme type field, field A15 as the learner is following the full apprenticeship programme.  A programme aim is required.

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8.    When do we need a programme aim?

For all learners doing one of the programmes listed in the programme type field, field A15, that is:

  • Apprenticeships
  • Advanced apprenticeships
  • Adult apprenticeships
  • Higher level apprenticeships
  • Diplomas
  • Progression pathways (part of the Foundation Learning Tier (FLT))
  • E2E

For apprenticeships the framework achievement date is recorded in the achievement field, field A40 on the programme aim (not on the main aim).

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9.    When is the LSC number, field L25 entered in a learner responsive ILR return?

The LSC number is required for E2E learners and ESF co-financed learners and should be entered in the LSC number field, field L25.

The null value should be used in the learner responsive return if this is not applicable.

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10.    How should a learner who turns 19 during their 2 year programme be coded in field A10?

For funding purposes, the learner is paid using the 16-18 learner responsive funding model in both years.

  • A10 = 21 (16-18 learner responsive provision)
  • A14 = 01 (16-18 year old learner)

For learner monitoring purposes the leaner would be counted as a 19+ learner in year 2.

The LSC Funding Guidance 2008/09: Principles. Rules and Regulations says:
“For funding purposes, a 16–18-year-old learner is aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31 August in the teaching year when the learner begins a programme of study.  This wider definition ensures that the funding eligibility of a 16–to 18-year-old learner does not change during an individual’s programme if the learner becomes 19 years old. Such learners, if full-time, may be funded for the 16–18 entitlement. They do not have to pay tuition fees if they become 19 during their programme, and colleges and providers may continue to claim fee remission.” Paragraph 52

“For funding purposes, an adult learner is aged 19 or over on 31 August in the funding year when the learner begins a programme of study. The funding definition should be used in all situations except when
 monitoring learner numbers.” Paragraph 54

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11.    What should I do if the warning rule violation R25 appears on the LIS validation report?

If the warning rule violation rule R25 appears on the 2008/09 LIS validation report and the warning refers to ZPROG001 learning aims, then this can be ignored. 

This rule was originally implemented to ensure that learning aims were not being entered more than once and then claiming full funding for both aims.  With the introduction of the programme aim, which can be entered more than once for a learner.  This would be where one programme has been completed and a new programme started in the same academic year.  This rule should have been revised to exclude the ZPROG001 learning aim.

The rule R25 is only a warning and will not prevent you from returning ILR data to the LSC.  This rule will be revised for 2009/10.

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12.    What is the date of the F01 return for 2008/09?

For colleges and other grant funded providers:
The timetable published in Appendix A of the ILR specification is unchanged and the return date is 1st December 2008. This return is for all learner responsive provision including E2E and FLT provision which may have been returned under the WBL return in the past.

For providers who are not grant funded, that is those classified as independent on PIMs:
The LSC is requesting that these providers, where possible, return the FO1 by 14th November 2008. This is to allow time for contract variance reports to be produced. These will inform the first quarter review and allow any adjustments to contract profiles to be notified by 20th December 2008. This is described in paragraphs 58-61 of the Learner Responsive ILR Support Manual

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13.    How do I record QCF unit funding trials through the Adult Learner Responsive model?

To support learners enrolled on QCF units between the 1 August and the 31 December 2008 the ZUQA codes will be made eligible for the Adult Learner Responsive model. The ZUQA codes will be available at the start of the week beginning 8 December 2008.

New starts should not be enrolled on the ZUQA codes after 31 December 2008 as from the 1 January 2009 onwards funding for units in the Adult Learner Responsive model will be restricted to the eligible QCF units and identified by unique learning aim codes on LAD.  All new starts will also be required to have a valid Unique Learner Number (ULN).

The ineligibility of the ZUQA codes may have impacted on providers' submission of the F01 Learner Responsive ILR return, which was due on the 1 December 2008. The ZUQA codes are now eligible on the LAD for learners enrolled on QCF units between 1 August 2008 and 31 December 2008.

In preparation for the next submission of the ILR (F02) providers are asked to comply with the following guidance:

  • For learners with start dates between 1 August and the 31 December 2008 please include any QCF units that could not be submitted in the F01 due to the ineligibility of the ZUQA codes. Any QCF units that were incorrectly coded should be recoded using the available ZUQA code, in time for the submission of the F02 return
  • For learners starting after the 1 January 2009 please use the unique unit reference code for the eligible units and ensure learners have a valid ULN.

The list of eligible QCF units for delivery through Adult Learner Responsive model (including the LAD reference) has been published on the LSC website alongside the guidance at: http://qfr.lsc.gov.uk/ukvqrp/support

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