Service leaders will want to interrogate the data after errors have been cleared, and will welcome the opportunity to address any indications of poor performance before they approve the return submission. This effectively means there are two data exercises involved in the statutory return; the first, to resolve validation errors and ensure a valid return, and the second to check the data is a proper representation of local activity, and allow for making any necessary amendments to satisfy local service leads before sign-off. 18 References: key data publications Most publication dates are finalised with a one month notice period, meaning the dates provided here are approximated. See also: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/childrens-social-care-statistics 19 Expected publication date Please allow 1-2 weeks for updated versions of ChAT and BMt Publication title References June Schools, pupils and their characteristics (National pupil database updates covering school census, alternative provision, early years census, 3-term absence, etc.) Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2022/23 – Explore education statistics – GOV.UK (explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk) June Population Estimates for UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: mid-year (estimates extrapolated from national census data, used to generate “rates per 10,000 population” for inter-LA comparisons). Population estimates - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk) November Children looked after in England including adoptions (outturn from the SSDA903 statutory data return, often closely scrutinised by media and local leaders). Statistics: looked-after children - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) November Children in need in England (outturn from the CIN Census statutory data re