The learning aim reference service ( LARS ) offers a search facility called find a learning aim . Use find a learning aim to search for specific aims, including: qualifications standards apprenticeships T levels units You can download the complete learning aims dataset for the current academic year in various formats, as well as those of previous years.

Guidance

Find a learning aim and ILR sources of data

Q: Qualifications and public funding

A list is available of qualifications: approved for public funding previously approved for public funding no longer approved for funding

Updated 1 July 2025

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/individualised-learner-record-ilr-sources-of-data/find-a-learning-aim-and-ilr-sources-of-data

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) closed on 31 March 2025. All activity has moved to the Department for Education (DfE). You should continue to follow this guidance.

DfE uses individualised learner record (ILR) data to calculate funding allocated to publicly funded:

colleges
training organisations
local authorities
employers (FE providers)

The data provides information on the effectiveness of learning programmes, in terms of:

who they reach
the learning students receive
the outcomes achieved

FE providers should refer to the list of required fields for each funding stream in the provider support manual to collect the correct data for different types of student.