 consider the full breadth of LA contexts in data innovation work. 9.8. DfE’s role in sector data development Our work discovered and demonstrated successful instances of sector-led data development, and we engaged with many LAs working independently on their own data development agenda. We also recognised widespread reticence to adopt data practice or production burdens where DfE did not require it. Some LAs cited limited resources, or increasing data burdens, or CMS costs and limitations, as reasons for deferring on voluntary or sector-led data opportunities. We also heard from some LAs who were unwilling to engage in new data activity unless funding provision was made for that new activity. From this we conclude that the SSD’s success as a national standard may be contingent on DfE’s adoption of the standard as a national requirement. While initial interest from LAs in helping us test the SSD output code is very encouraging, we would not expect 100% of LAs to volunteer to adopt the SSD production methods unless, as with Ofsted’s “Annex A” or DfE’s annual data collections, some kind of national framework exists to make this a necessary part of LAs’ data work. 10. Conclusion The project has now delivered on most of its original scope at significantly lower cost than originally expected. However, DfE funding restrictions mean we are unable to “carry” funding for the remaining project strands into the next financial year. As such, our primary consideration at the time of writing is to keep the project’s products in active support while DfE considers their longer- term future. We also seek to maximise uptake of the SSD in LAs, because we know that the usefulness of any standard is directly proportional to its universality; if not all LAs can produce data to the standard, 