Glossary
Error severity
Whether a validation failure rejects the record or only warns about it.
In full
Validation failures carry a severity. A failure that rejects the record removes it from the return and therefore from funding until it is corrected. A warning keeps the record but flags it for attention.
Warnings are routinely ignored and routinely turn into audit findings. They exist because something looks unusual, and the right response is to check whether it genuinely is.
Where this comes up
diagnostic
A large number of validation errors appeared suddenly
Validation has produced a large number of failures that were not there before. A sudden change in volume almost always has one cause rather than many.
module
What validation does, and what it does not do
Validation checks that the data is internally consistent and conforms to the specification. It does not check that the data is true, that the learner was eligible, or that the funding is correct.
diagnostic
Changes to actual end date or planned end date after R14 of previous year
The learning planned end date must not change between funding years. You can only amend this date in the first ILR year to correct administrative errors. You must not change this date to reflect slow progress, illness or similar circumstances. If a learning actual end date was recorded for a learning aim in the previous year’s R14 file and the aim continues to be returned in the current year, this date must not be changed. For apprenticeship standards on a programme aim, the learning actual end date must not be changed once the end point assessment (EPA) period has been completed. You must record the date the EPA is completed in the achievement date field, regardless of the outcome.
diagnostic
Continuing or completed learning aims that are now reported as withdrawn on or before 31 July of the previous funding year
If a learner is continuing learning at the final R14 collection at the end of the year, but you record in the subsequent ILR year that they should have left in the previous ILR year, you may have earned funding that you need to repay. This report identifies funding that may be recovered because a withdrawal was reported late. If the error extends into multiple previous years, the recovery could exceed the amount shown as we only show the previous year’s funding.
diagnostic
ILR submissions must use the correct namespace
This rule runs in FIS and the Submit Learner Data service upon the submission of a file and creates an error where the namespace of the file does not match that of the schema.
diagnostic
Skills Bootcamp component aims must have a corresponding programme aim with the same combination of funding model, programme type and contract reference number
Skills Bootcamp component aims must have a programme aim with the same funding model, programme type and contract reference number error