Preparing for R14: Managing Dual ILR in Bud

As we approach the R14 ILR deadline – Thursday 23rd October, it’s vital to ensure your data is accurate and compliant. Bud’s Dual ILR functionality helps you manage records across both academic years during the crossover period — but there are key steps you should follow to protect your funding.


Why Dual ILR Matters in the Crossover Period

  • During the crossover, a learner’s record may need to appear in both the prior year ILR file and the current year file, depending on the dates of changes (withdrawals, enrolments, etc.).
  • Bud uses DfE logic to decide at field level which ILR year (prior, current, or both) a change should affect.
  • Updates made manually or via workflows in one ILR year do not automatically update the other year.
  • Once the hard close date passes, edits to the prior year are no longer possible.

Recommended R14 Process

  1. Submit ILR Data – Upload your final R14 ILR file via Bud.
  2. Validate – DfE systems will check your file against schema and rules.
  3. Run PDSAT – Use PDSAT reports and monitoring tools to check for issues.
  4. Resolve Errors – Correct any rejected records in Bud before the deadline.
  5. Funding Claim – Your validated data populates the final claim.
  6. Financial Reconciliation – DfE uses R14 for final funding adjustments.

Using Bud Effectively in the Crossover Period

  • Utilise the ILR reconciliation reports, giving you a final accuracy check, helping to spot mismatches before your R14 submission
  • Use workflows where possible, rather than manual edits to keep automation intact.
  • Be year-aware - changes in one ILR year don’t copy across automatically. (Remember to toggle between years)
  • Respect the hard close - no edits are possible once R14 is submitted.
  • Validate early - run test exports and PDSAT to avoid surprises.