Mastering PDSAT: Key takeaways from our webinar

Led by Matt Butson, Principal Funding Compliance Consultant, and supported by Carla Martinho, Director of Professional and Advisory Services, the webinar explored what’s new in the 2025/26 PDSAT release and how providers can use it effectively to strengthen data quality, avoid compliance issues, and safeguard funding.  

 Why PDSAT Matters More Than Ever 

As Matt highlighted, PDSAT remains one of the most valuable tools providers have for understanding the health of their ILR data. It allows organisations to: 

• Identify potential data errors before they trigger funding risks 

• Sense check the accuracy of ILR submissions 

• Understand patterns, outliers, and early warning signs 

• Prepare confidently for audit 

• Improve internal processes by identifying root causes, not just errors. 

Although originally designed as an audit tool, PDSAT is now widely used across the sector as a core part of ongoing data quality assurance. Yet many providers still only scratch the surface of what it can do.  

What’s New in PDSAT 2025/26 

The latest release brings valuable enhancements and policy updates, including: 

•  Updated rules for English & maths for 16–19 learners - Minimum recording hours are now fully integrated into relevant reports.  

• Apprenticeship updates for 2025/26 - Changes to minimum durations (eight months), off-the-job hours and incentive payments are now reflected in DSAT calculations.  

• A new summer starts report - Supporting providers managing early-year or mid-year cohorts.  

• System improvements for usability - Including enhanced filtering by funding source, subcontractor names displayed more clearly, better handling of long workbooks, longer session timeouts, and improved annotation matching – a feature Matt recommends every provider should use.  

These updates mean PDSAT is more user-friendly and aligned with this year’s funding rules. 

Understanding the Five Types of PDSAT Reports 

Matt walked attendees through the structure of PDSAT, which includes: 

• System reports - metadata and logic 

• Listing reports - comprehensive data views for sense checking 

• Summary reports - policy level insights 

• Investigative reports - likely rule violations 

• Confirmative reports - potential issues needing review 

Listing reports, in particular, are an “unsung hero”, allowing providers to quickly identify gaps, patterns or unexpected absences in the data that may otherwise go unnoticed.  

Beyond PDSAT: The Full Data Assurance Ecosystem 

PDSAT is powerful, but it shouldn’t be used in isolation. Matt emphasised the importance of combining it with: 

• FIS (for derivations and financial elements) 

• QAR reports (for achievement anomalies) 

• FRM reports (for cross year validation) 

• Submit Learner Data service checks 

• Financial period-end reports 

Together, these create a complete picture of data accuracy and financial assurance, essential for providers who want to avoid surprise audit findings.

Support Available from Tribal’s Funding and Compliance Experts 

Carla closed the session by reminding providers that expert support is available year-round. Tribal’s Funding and Compliance Service offers: 

• One off advice on specific data or funding issues 

• Ongoing annual contracts for full ILR and audit support 

• Daily operational guidance 

• Interim cover when teams are stretched 

• Hands on preaudit or R14 preparation support 

As Carla put it, “Outsourcing your headaches” is sometimes the most efficient way to stay compliant, especially with rules stretching into hundreds of pages. 

You can watch it back here: Funding and Compliance Webinar Series 2026 

Next in the Series: Mastering PDSAT for Audit  

Our next webinar, Mastering PDSAT for Audit, is a deeper dive into how PDSAT is used during audit, how to prepare, and how to avoid common pitfalls: 

📅 Thursday 11 June 

⏰ 2pm GMT 

This is ideal for anyone involved in ILR preparation, data assurance, MIS management, quality, or compliance. 

Secure your place here:  Funding and Compliance Webinar Series 2026