the Information Authority – latest updates

Below are the latest changes to the information authority’s website (www.theia.org.uk) for 28/01/2012:

FE Data Management – Recording Nested Qualifications in the ILR
We have reissued guidance on ‘nested qualifications’ to help providers as they start to plan for the next academic year.

Inform Issue 56 – January 2012
The latest issue of inform is now available to download.

the Data Service …Latest updates

the Data Service Web has pubished the following latest additions to the www.thedataservice.org.uk website for 27/01/2012:

Reminder: 2010/11 SL05 hard close is 16 January 2012
The Data Service would like to remind providers that the final 2010/11 SL05 ILR return will hard close on 16 January 2012. Follow link for more information…
2010/11 end of year Employer Responsive Qualification Success Rate and Minimum Levels of Performance reports to be published
The 2010/11 end of year Employer Responsive QSR and MLP reports to be published shortly.
LIS V19.02 due for release in January
The Data Service will be releasing the Learner Information Suite (LIS) V19.02 later this month.
2010/11 Train to Gain MLP reports republished
Due to an error, the Data Service has now republished the Train to Gain MLP reports.
LIS V19.02 update

OLDC and Provider Gateway – technical issues

Revised Apprenticeship QSR reports and Learner Responsive data extract published
Due to a technical issue the Data Service has had to rectify and republish the Apprenticeship Qualification Success Rate reports. Follow link for more information…
2010/11 End of Year Employer Responsive Qualification Success Rate and Minimum Level of Performance reports published
The Data Service published the 2010/11 End of Year Employer Responsive Qualification Success Rate and Minimum Levels of Performance (MLP) reports on 11 January 2012.
R06 ILR return due on 06 February 2012
The Data Service would like to remind all providers (including colleges) that the 2011/12 R06 ILR return is due in on 06 February 2012 and therefore to send data for ALL of their learners. Follow link for more information…

Skills Funding Agency – Update – Issue 86

In this issue:

• Technical Note to accompany the reconciliation statement that all providers paid on profile by the Agency will receive on 13 December 2011
• Use of 2.5 per cent of Adult Skills Budget for job outcomes in 2011/12
• Minimum Levels of Performance 2012/13
• Benchmarking and reporting tool eMandate – now available
• Jobseeker’s Allowance Full-time Training Flexibility (J2779) Guidance – Changes to attendance rules under Skills Conditionality
• Learning Aim Database Hierarchy Freeze to support 2010/11 Learner Responsive Success Rates
• Online Data Collection Maintenance Release 2 goes live
• R04 and 2010/11 End-of-year Qualification Success Rates
• Coming soon – 2010/11 Learner Responsive Qualification Success Rate reports and Minimum Levels of Performance reports
• Follow the Skills Funding Agency on Twitter
• Office moves: closure of West Malling office and opening of new office at Chatham

Update – Issue 86

via Skills Funding Agency – Providers – All the latest – Update – Update – Issue 86.

Skills Funding Agency – Update – Issue 85

In this issue:

• R04 deadline – provider concerns
• New challenges, new chances
• Qualifications and Credit Framework: Non-regulated Provision
• Enhanced Renewal Grant phase 2: Timescales for approval
• Learner Information Suite V19.01 Maintenance Release 2 republished
• A guide to submitting Individualised Learner Record data for 2011/12 now available
• Joint Investment Programme 2011 – lead provider choice
• Awarding organisations and the Personal Learning Record
• Office Moves: Liverpool
• WorldSkills Equipment Sale – new items added

Update – Issue 85

via Skills Funding Agency – Providers – All the latest – Update – Update – Issue 85.

SHP – Safety and Health Practitoner – Health and safety requirements to be relaxed to boost apprenticeships

From the start of next year, training providers and employers offering apprenticeships will no longer have to comply with any requirements that go ‘above and beyond’ health and safety legislation.

Announcing new measures last week as part of the Government’s Plan for Growth, Business secretary Vince Cable said red tape that can deter employers from taking on apprentices would be slashed.

At present, the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) expects training providers and the employers they work with to meet not only the health and safety standards required for all employees but also additional requirements for apprentices.

The changes announced by Mr Cable………

….. read the rest of this article in SHP – Safety and Health Practitoner via Health and safety requirements to be relaxed to boost apprenticeships – news-content | SHP – Safety and Health Practitoner.

The Information Authority – Course Directory data specification

The Skills Funding Agency has asked the information authority to take on responsibility for the Course Directory data specification from 2012/13. We will soon begin consulting with the sector on this. We want to look at existing standards for course related information and assess whether any improvements can be made to this data collection without compromising the coverage and quality of course information required to meet the needs of prospective learners. The Skills Funding Agency has also asked the Data Service to take on responsibility for the collection of this data from learning providers from 1 August 2012.

via The Information Authority – News – Latest News – Course Directory data specification.

The Data Service – Learner Information Suite 19.01 software

The Data Service has now published the Learner Information Suite Maintenance Release 2 (19.01.65) for learning providers and software suppliers/writers.

This is now available to download from the LIS 19.01 download page.

Users are strongly advised to read the LIS 19.01 Release Guide (available on the download page) before installing the software.

The Data Service – ‘How to’ guide to submitting ILR data for 2011/12

Working with the information authority, the Data Service has produced a‘How to’ guide to sending ILR data for 2011/12. This guide has been produced in response to the issues raised by providers with both the Data Service and the information authority in understanding how to use the data collection systems and how to send data for 2011/12.

The 2011/12 ILR Specification provides more detail on some of the topics covered in this guide, however this guide will provide users with a quick glance at the following topics:

• How to send ILR files in OLDC
• How to transmit ILR data – A and B file transmissions
• How to use transmission numbers
• How to check your error reports in the learner Information Suite and the Online Data Collections system
• How to request a Provider Funding Report

This guide is available to download from both the information authority and the Data Service websites.

via The Data Service – News and Updates – ‘How to’ guide to submitting ILR data for 2011/12.

Skills Funding Agency – Update – Issue 84

In this issue:

• R04 – avoid the rush, and get your Individualised Learner Record return in early!
• Submitting an Apprenticeship vacancy – quality guidelines
• Employer poaching on Apprenticeship vacancies
• WorldSkills Equipment Sale – Further items added and exclusivity period extended to 4 December!
• Competitions and Awards office move
• Skills competitions information sessions
• Equality Act workshops

Update – Issue 84

via Skills Funding Agency – Providers – All the latest – Update – Update – Issue 84.

Skills Funding Agency – Update – Issue 83

In this issue:

• Adult Skills Budget: Third Sector Training Organisations and 19-24 NEETs
• ILR Funding Claims and Audit Returns 2010/11
• Update – Discretionary Learner Support First Mid Year Forecast – 2011/12
• Registering Employers on Apprenticeship vacancies – new process
• Learner Satisfaction Survey 2011/12
• Providers paid on Actuals for 10/11 for their 19+ Adult Skills Budget and baseline calculations for 12/13 allocations
• Approved College and Training Organisation Register (ACTOR) Update
• Find out more about the value of skills competitions
• WorldSkills Equipment Sale
• Awarding organisations and the Personal Learning Record

Update – Issue 83

via Skills Funding Agency – Providers – All the latest – Update – Update – Issue 83.