ILR data: provider data self-assessment toolkit (PDSAT)
Provider data self assessment toolkit (PDSAT) and reports to help FE providers make accurate and complete individualised learner record (ILR) data returns.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
Colleges, independent training providers, employer-providers, local authorities and other organisations can use a number of reports and tools to test the integrity of Individualised Learner Record (ILR) data.
Reviewing PDSAT reports: user guide
The user guide will assist users (colleges, independent training providers, employer-providers, accountancy firms, other organisations and Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) staff in performing detailed reviews of the suite of PDSAT reports for the respective funding year. It will assist providers in carrying out their routine data cleansing and submitting accurate ILR data returns to the ESFA. Therefore, we encourage providers to use PDSAT to regularly check ILR data and, thus, minimise the risk of overclaiming funds from ESFA and subsequent repayment of funds. The guide is also used by the ESFA and accountancy firms in the delivery of funding audits.
This guide does not explain how to use the PDSAT software. You can access the PDSAT User Guide in the Documentation section of the Settings tab within PDSAT itself.
Provider data self-assessment toolkit (PDSAT)
PDSAT is a tool for analysing learner and learning delivery data. It interrogates ILR data and produces reports on this data, so that providers can identify and investigate potential anomalies in the ILR data.
We have developed PDSAT to include new functionality for the 2021 to 2022 funding year as well as maintaining existing functionality applicable from the 2016 to 2017 funding year onwards. As a result, PDSAT will process ILR data for all such funding years.
We have designed it to:
- give providers a toolkit to analyse ILR data
- assist auditors in the audit of providers’ ILR data
- select audit samples and create a set of audit working papers
It is providers’ responsibility to implement processes to ensure that they return timely and accurate data in their ILRs.
Whilst the use of PDSAT is not mandatory, we strongly recommend its use to assist providers in their routine data cleansing, as well as assisting in their preparation for assurance visits.
We have designed PDSAT to process data that has been validated through the funding information system (FIS). We recommend that all ILR errors and warnings are reviewed and corrected before the ILR file is processed in PDSAT.
PDSAT allows the user to import ILR XML data files and FIS data files for each funding year. Note that reports run from PDSAT using an ILR XML data file will not include funding but will include any non-validated records.
PDSAT download
You can download PDSAT.
All future updates to PDSAT will install automatically if the user has an internet connection that allows connection to the ESFA website and PDSAT download websites.
Installation
To install PDSAT:
- select the download link above to begin downloading PDSAT.
- your browser will offer you a choice of whether to “Run” or “Save” the download. Select “Run”.
- a message box will display, asking if you wish to install PDSAT. Select “Install” to install PDSAT.
- if you do not have the necessary prerequisite software for PDSAT, you will be asked to select “Install” up to three times. If you do not have administrator rights, you will need an administrator to accept installation of the prerequisites. Please note, PDSAT will not run if the prerequisite software is not installed.
- once the installation is complete, the PDSAT opening screen will appear and will begin the initial set-up.
- a PDSAT shortcut will be created on your desktop and in your start menu, which you can use to start PDSAT in any future sessions.
If you have any problems running PDSAT, or have any queries please contact the PDSAT helpdesk.
Last updated 10 January 2023 + show all updates
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We have published the Provider data self-Assessment toolkit (PDSAT) online: user guide.
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We have published guidance about the updates planned to the PDSAT.
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We have updated the Reviewing provider data self assessment toolkit (PDSAT) reports for 2021 to 2022: user guide.
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We have published the reviewing provider data self assessment toolkit (PDSAT) reports for 2021 to 2022: user guide.
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We have published the latest user guide for reviewing provider data self assessment toolkit (PDSAT) reports for 2020 to 2021.
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We have published the user guide for reviewing provider data self assessment toolkit (PDSAT) reports for 2019 to 2020.
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First published.