Individualised Learner Record (ILR) technical documents, guidance and requirements

Here you'll find documents that define the ILR data that publicly funded providers must collect and return.


Select Date

2024 to 2025


ILR Specification

Contains the technical specification for all data fields, entities and collection requirements for the Individual Learner Record.

ILR Privacy Notice

Information for learners about the ILR and how their personal information is used.

Validation Rules

Contains the beta online ILR validation rules with additional guidance and features, For a full list of the validation rules for 24 to 25 please refer to the spreadsheet as online validation rules will be released gradually.

Data collection timetable

Information on when to return your data to the ESFA, this highlights the submission deadlines and associated reference data.


Migration specification

How to migrate data between years

Appendices and schema

The Schema and sample files for the ILR specification, this also includes the 24 to 25 ILR validation rule spreadsheet.

Archive


Previous ILR years

You can view a full archive of previous years.

Provider Support Manual

Understanding the ILR

This section includes Individualised Learner Record (ILR) beginners guidance and examples for completing the ILR for different types of learning provision and in different scenarios, in some cases worked examples relating to funding are provided.

Making changes and correcting errors

This section covers correcting data entry errors found in ILR data returns. It contains various scenarios of incorrect data and the processes for correcting these errors. The section is intended for experienced PSM users and covers problems relating to all funding types and all aspects of learner records in ILR data.

Guidance for funding streams

This section covers funding stream specific guidance for Apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps, 16-19 study programmes, Skills Bootcamps, T levels, A and AS Levels, Higher Education, Free Courses for Jobs, Community Learning, Pilots and Multiply

Further information and related links

This section covers further sources of information and guidance available.

View all categories in the Provider Support Manual .

Latest updates

Validation Rules 2024 to 2025: Version 4 now available

Validation Rules for 2024 to 2025

R13 top 10 errors

R13 error guidance

Validation Rules 2024 to 2025: Version 3 now available

Validation Rules for 2024 to 2025

R12 top 10 errors

R12 error guidance

Validation Rules 2024 to 2025: Version 2 now available

Validation Rules for 2024 to 2025

Validation Rules 2023 to 2024: Version 5 now available

Validation Rules for 2023 to 2024

Help and Support

Governance

Delivering the ILR Specification

Reference

Learning aim class codes

Tools and services