Thanks.
As the Programme Aim (ZPROG001) is not actually a qualification and is not actually delivered, I wondered why the Postcode is required here anyway.
However, since posting I have found an answer to the same query from the Data Service from 2009.
>>
Programme aim
The delivery location postcode at the start of the programme should be recorded for [...]

For ER 'Programme Aim' what should the Delivery Postcode be ? ( previously field A23)
The Employer's Postcode where the NVQ is delivered or the College's Postcode, where the technical certificate is delivered, or the Provider's postcode if different to above ?

ACE – comming soon

http://www.sscalliance.org/Home-Public/NewsandEvents/NewsandEventArticles/ApprenticeshipCertificatesEnglandACEiscomingJanuary2012.aspx

The Employer Statisfaction Survey 2011/12 request that we update our employers' details, including an EDRS number on the FFE site. ( but doesn't actually say where the site is )
http://readingroom.skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/sfa/sfa-employersatisfactionsurvey201112-publicpaper-v1.pdf

Currently, we only need to obtain an EDRS number at the start of an apprentices training, so if they have changed employers, the new employer may [...]

I was expecting that any changes to SLN or Programme Weighting values in LARA would be listed on the Data Amendments pages, but this hasn't been updated since July.
We are not going to troll through LARA each week to see if there are any changes. The first we will know of a [...]

Does this apply to SFA funding for Apprenticeships ? – Probably
But as all our funding is from the SFA – I await information from them.

Its great to know that the funding for some courses may have been reduced by about 25%, 5 months after agreements have been signed etc. and learners have started their courses [...]

I now have an accurate PFR.

The records just needed to be recalculated to place the Framework completions in the correct month after the OLDC update a couple of weeks ago. Amending my data slightly caused a recalc of that record and now every thing seems fine.
I still think it would be handy to [...]

I requested a PFR on Friday, which was run Friday Night – still not showing Framework Achievement Payments for Last year and still using incorrect SLN values in a few cases for new starts

As at 5th December, still no change to Framework Outcome payment dates on PFR. Still paid in month of NVQ completion, not Framework Claim date.

Question 1. Would it be possible for the SFA to actually publish the exact questions to be asked so they could be included in our 'enrolment' paperwork.
For Apprentices, would the period of 1 week be relevant, as a lot of apprentices are taken on after leaving school in June/July, but do not start their [...]

Although no longer a problem on LIS, the PFRs are still not showing the Achievement Funding in the correct month. Possibly because the Framework Achievement date isn't shown on the PFR, so the Achievement funding is being listed in the month teh main aim was completed.

Anyone know the reason why the Framework Achievement date was [...]

Looks like they've corrected the Fwk Problem on LIS with Maintenance Release 2 (19.01.61).

As previously mentioned, unless it has been corrected, the Achievement funding on LIS and the PFR ( at least for Err App ) appears in the month the Main Aim was completed, whereas it should, I believe, appear in the month the Framework was claimed from the Awarding Body. (I cant see why SFA [...]

This problem seems to have been going on for a while.
Current LIS Know Issue :
1.11/ Apprenticeship Achievement is not calculated where main aims are
achieved in the previous academic year.

For ER Apprenticeships
The PFRs for 2011-12 show the Framework Achievement payment being paid in the that month the Main Aim was completed. This means, that for those who completed their Main Aim in 2010-2011, the Achievement payment, claimed in 2011-12 is not being paid at all.

I believe this is a known issue with [...]

On rechecking the SLN values for a qualification, I noticed that the start date on the Second funding line had been put back to October. This means that for August and September we will now receive the Primary and lower rate of funding then previously expected.

It would be nice ,
a) if [...]

In the presentation 'Summary of changes to the ILR for 2012/13 Version 1 – 07 October 2011' ( published today) there is the following statement:
“There will be no flat file ILR specification for 2012/13 and no conversion facility available in the LIS. All ILR returns for 2012/13 must conform to the
single ILR specification [...]

This now seems to have been resolved – at least in LIS

Not sure what is ment by a low value field, but from my point of view it would be any field which isn't used to calculate funding. Fields purely used to provide statistical information could be collected seperately by those who want it.

For Apprentices, where a learner starts the NVQ 3 and 1st Technical certificate of a Framework in September 2009, but does not start the 2nd Technical Certificate until September 2011 and where there is a new SASE Framework now replacing their old one, LIS is rejecting the 2nd Technical certificate, as the Framework is [...]

According to Construction Skills, 40% of those employed in the Construction Industry in the South East are self employed. Thus they will no longer be able to pass their skills on to a trainee as they are unlikely to start a PAYE scheme just for one apprentice.

Will there a LARA “data amendments” excel file in the near future ?
We have noticed that some SLNs have changed quite dramatically.
There were over 800 changes on 3rd August ( presumably not all SLN changes )

We must move with the times, but some of us small providers will either still be using POL, until July 2012, or will be submitting flat files via LIS. We do not have the staff with the expertise to create XML files from our own MI systems. ( or dont want the additional cost of [...]

Is they any order in which the Programme, Main and Sub Aims should be sorted and given sequence numbers ( A05 ), especially where there are two Programme Aims ( one open and one closed ) and the associated NVQ, Tech Cert and 2x Key skills with each one ?