 data, is valuable to address current LA needs, and that the wider project of national standards for data collection is valuable. We need to keep a clear eye on why we think the history-to-date of safeguarding data collection leaves us, as LAs, still wanting “better data” – what needs to change about our approach, and why did it happen that way in the first place? If we can establish clear proposals for new standard data items addressing current data gaps, evidence from this research suggests that this will be well-received and useful to LAs in their work to assure good outcomes for children. Many LAs mistrust DfE use of their data This can’t be overstated – repeatedly LAs voiced concerns about how any new data specification would be used by DfE. This resonates with wider concerns around DfE data strategy – “daily data flow” and “scorecards” and phone check-ins. Improving and maintaining relationships between DfE and LAs around data strategy should be a core strategic goal for DfE. We’re right to think current data doesn’t do a good job of exploring outcomes/“voice” The disparity between desire to understand these areas, and ability to do so, is the clearest story from our survey. How much of this is a solvable problem – by data strategy – is an open question. We will prioritise outcomes data design. Expanding or changing data arrangements in LAs is costly Current data returns and ad hoc requests place a high burden on LA data teams, often inhibiting local insight work. A key priority from the LA perspective is closing the loop on data asks, so that they properly benefit the LA’s local work. LAs aren’t all the same We found diversity of size, caseload, practice priorities, organisational structures, data strategy and systems responsibility. There’s no “one size fits all