Learning aim reference service (LARS)

Learning aim reference service (LARS)

LARS offers a web based search facility called find a learning aim(FaLA). It allows users to search by most commonly used fields for qualifications, units, apprenticeship frameworks and apprenticeship standards and their associated validity and funding details.

LARS downloads are available to allow colleges, training organisations and employers (providers) to interrogate the same LARS data set that is used in the Funding Information System (FIS).

The learning aim reference service category codes provides definitions and guidance for each category on the LARS.

FaLA

Use FaLA to search for specific aims, including qualifications, standards, apprenticeship, T Levels and units.

You can download the complete learnings aims dataset for the current academic year in various formats, as well as previous years.

Providers requesting new learning aims for provision recognised as higher education for Office for Students funding purposes must submit completed forms, together with all approval information, to us by:

Friday 24 September 2021 for 2020 to 2021
Friday 23 September 2022 for 2021 to 2022

This allows for them to be added to the find a learning aim database for the R14 ILR submission.
We recommend that providers request learning aims throughout the funding year to ensure that their ILR submissions are up to date.

Guidance on completion of necessary forms and background information can be found in Provision recognised as higher education for Office for Students funding purposes

The Higher education learning aim request form (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 76KB) and the LearnDirect classification system (LDCS) codes (MS Excel Spreadsheet, 138KB) are available to download. The completed form and an approval letter should be emailed to [email protected].

Learning aim class codes

The learning aim class codes sets out details of the classification and coding system used to record non-regulated activity in the individualised learning record.

Downloads of the Learning aim reference service datasets

The datasets can be found in 3 formats and are updated in line with the data collection maintenance schedule.