Postcode absent from 2023 to 2024 devolution postcode dataset

continues......

I have checked the provider support manual, but can find no guidance about what to do when the postcode is absent from the dataset.  

This situation must crop up regularly when new postcodes are created, so there must be an established process for dealing with it, but I just can't find it.  

I think this section in https://guidance.submit-learner-data.service.gov.uk/23-24/psm/article/sending-data-to-the-ESFA#article-Postcode%20validation  may apply?

Postcode validation

It is important that postcodes are correctly formatted, this includes the space between the two parts of the postcode. Postcodes with two spaces will fail validation when the data is uploaded to the online service.

Most postcode fields in the ILR are mandatory fields and cannot be left blank. For mandatory postcode fields, if the postcode is unknown or does not apply then a value of ZZ99 9ZZ should be recorded.

For the Learning start date postcode field and if the learner's postcode is unknown or not yet updated on the ONS postcode table (i.e. a new build), providers must return a postcode of ZZ99 9ZZ.

Thank you Timmo,

That must be the relevant part.  I thought it was surprisingly difficult to find, especially as they could have linked directly to that paragraph instead of linking to the main PSM page.  

So, learners whose postcode is not in the postcode dataset can be funded by all providers, regardless of the devolved area boundaries (so long as the postcode is recorded as ZZ99 9ZZ).  

Peter Hancock, yes I had a feeling it was about using ZZ99 so searched on that rather than the word 'postcode'!

Here is another related query.  
I have downloaded the three spreadsheet-friendly data files from here:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-education-budget-aeb-postcode-files#full-publication-update-history

The files themselves don't seem to have any marker, date stamp or version number to show when they were created, yet the website update history says that the postcode datasets were updated on 10/08/2023.  

Looking in the files, there is no "valid from" date after 1/11/2022.  So, I wonder if this means that all postcodes added after 1/11/2022 have a "valid from" date back-dated to 1/11/2022?  

Peter Hancock, don't know I'm afraid. In the previous years they did quarterly updates August, November, February and May but as you say there is nothing after November 2022. The number for that month don't look particularly inflated compared with other months, which doesn't suggest a lot of back-dating. Probably something to check with the ESFA service desk?