| Area of concern |
Summary |
Progress |
Further information |
|
Unscheduled data requests |
To eliminate the frequency and volume of data demands made by national and local LSC offices for data which can be extracted from ILR returns.
Desired outcomes:
- Better transparency of data requirements for providers and other key stakeholders
- Better consistency of data requirements across stakeholders
- Improved accountability and justification for data demands placed on providers |
The information authority Board agreed that the LSC will work with the new funding bodies, the Skills Funding Agency and the Young People's Learning Agency, to determine which regular data collections are to continue. An update on progress will be reported to the board in March 2010. |
- How to report and unscheduled data request or ask for a new collection
- Report: A Review of the Additional Data that the LSC Regularly Asks from Providers (GECKO) (presented to the information authority Board in September 2009) |
|
Inconsistencies in LSC data audit requirements |
To review the current requirement definitions and guidance for audit teams, assist with clarifying funding guidance on where audit controls/ risk can be addressed through alternative evidence, and review audit practices in other sectors to identify opportunities to refine requirements based on risk assessments.
Desired outcomes:
- Better transparency of data requirements for providers and other stakeholders
- Better consistency of data requirements across stakeholders
- Greater proportionality of data requirements
- Improved accountability and justification for data demands placed on providers
- Better targeting of data requirements |
A brief update was provided to the information authority Board in December 2009.
A proposal for a joint audit code of practise that will set out how the Skills Funding Agency and the Young People's Learning Agency and local authorities will take assurance from each other based on the principle of 'one provider, on assuror' is being developed and was discussed at the Bureaucracy Reduction Group in September 2009. |
|
| Variations in awarding body specifications and data format requirements |
To review progress made by QAA/ NAA on examination system moderisation agenda and identify actions to be raised again with BIS/ DCSF/ Ofqual.
Desired outcomes:
- Better consistency of data requirements across stakeholders
- Improved accountability and justification for data demands placed on providers. |
The Information Standards Board is meeting with awarding organisations in March 2010 to take forward this work.
The information authority Secretariat will stay in touch with this work and encourage and support it where needed. |
- Visit the Information Standards Board website
|
| Inconsistencies in data/ format requirements across local Connexions offices |
SHORT TERM: Review feasibility of introducing protocol requirments across Connexions offices for:
- Standardised reporting formats and timetables for data required by Connexions
- Aligning Connexions defintions of learners with those required by LSC
- Defining clear rationale for need for/ proposed use of data requested.
LONGER TERM: Identify the nature/ timing of specific ad hoc requirements by Connexions offices, and review options for meeting these through existing data collections.
Desired outcomes:
- Better transparency of data requirements for providers and other key stakeholders
- Better consistency of data requirements across stakeholders
- Improved accountability and justification for data demands placed on providers. |
The information authority Secretariat will be carrying out further investigations concerning Connexions data collections, processing and dissemination by the Data Service. Outcomes to be presented to the information authority Board in March 2010. |
- Paper: Connexions Dataset (presented to the information authority Board in December 2009) |
| Volume of data collection required for ESF and Train to Gain |
Review the purpose/ rationale for data collected for these areas, guidance for audit (identify scope for reducing audit data requirements on basis of risk assessment), and requirements for lead providers of consortia (identify feasibility of single system for data entry across all providers).
Desired outcomes:
- Better transparency of data requirements for providers and other key stakeholders
- Greater proportionality of data requirements
- Improved accountability and justification for data demands placed on providers
- Better targeting of data requirements. |
The following measures were put in place related to ESF funding data:
- the removal of non-required fields from the ESF section of the ILR;
- the removal of the the separate ESF ILR for 2009/10; and
- the implementation of the ESF short record.
The Bureaucracy Reduction Group has made significant progress in reducing the data burden in Train to Gain. |
- Visit the Bureaucracy Reduction Group website |
| Percieved shortfalls in targeted guidance for frontline provider staff/ local LSC staff |
A comprehensive review of current LSC guidance and communication routes for providers, to identify opportunities to improve clarity, openness and timeliness. Also to identify the approach to be taken by the information authority regarding support, guidance and training for front line staff support activities (to engender improvements in relationship management).
Desired outcomes:
- Better transparency of data requirements for providers and other key stakeholders
- Greater proportionality of data requirements
- Improved accountability and justification for data demands placed on providers. |
The provider support manuals have been reviewed and will be published in March 2010.
The ILR e-learning module was launched in November 2009. Consultation is taking place on the requirements for a further module to cover the Learning Aims Database (LAD) and Learner Information Suite (LIS).
The Data Service is launching a new service in March 2010 to help providers improve data quality.
ILR Data Management FAQs have been published in response to queries following Geoff Russell's letter to providers (September 2009). A Data Managment Group has been established to look at issues raised and provide guidance on data management principles. |
- View the ILR e-learning module from the Data Service
- View further guidance on ILR data quality
- View the ILR Data Management FAQs |
