Speaker: Rupert Crossland
Can an apprentice who doesn't have English or maths, now choose to study just one of them in their apprenticeship?
Rupert Crossland: Hi, I'm Ruben Crosston, director of audit and compliance from Professional Assessment Limited, and I'm delighted that Bard arranged this opportunity to discuss some Q&A's around the new requirements for English and maths in apprenticeships. The updated rules were issued very soon after the policy announcement, and as a result, not enough time for fine tuning of the rules. And that can lead to questions and interpretations, and of course it's only when you have to apply the rules in practice that the practicalities of doing so become apparent. Providers find they must apply rules to scenarios that the rules don't appear to take into account. So now is the ideal time to consider some of the questions providers are encountering. This question is a good example of simple questions that may seem trivial but are actually very important to the learner, and the answer is yes. The employer and apprentice can decide to continue with either English or maths or decide to start learning just one if they're a new start, even where they have neither qualification.
Does the discussion have to be recorded for all 19 plus apprentices, or only those that wish to cease or not start English and / or maths?
Rupert Crossland: The discussion must be recorded in the training plan for all apprentices aged 19 plus who have not already achieved English and or maths at the previously required levels. Where English and all maths content is removed from a training plan, the training plan must be resigned by the employer by the next progress review. That's the ideal opportunity to do so. However, where the learner does wish to continue to study maths and or English, the employer is not required under the rules to resign the training plan. And the reason for that is it's because the learning content is not being removed.
Will apprentices on a break in learning, be expected to meet the 1st of April deadline?
Rupert Crossland: No. In such circumstances, the first of April deadline will not be enforced, and it's good to see the ESFA appreciate the learner's personal circumstances behind a break in learning could make it difficult, if not impossible, to meet that deadline. I've received confirmation from the ESFA that the discussion and decision can instead be deferred to form part of their return to learning conversation taking place after the first of April.
How do we meet the requirement for redundant apprentices?
Rupert Crossland: Where an apprentice has been made redundant, sadly, there is no employer to consult with, so the learner and provider can make the decision and record and sign this on the training plan. Should the apprentice secure new employment and continue their apprenticeship with the new employer, the new employer will sign a training plan reflecting the content of the program.
What are the revised maths and English evidence requirements for EPA organisations?
Rupert Crossland: For apprentices aged 16 to 18 at start, those requirements should be unchanged. I have heard of one endpoint assessment organization that is not asking for 16 to 18 year old starts maths and English evidence. Now that's raised a few eyebrows, but that's their decision. For apprentices aged 19 plus at start from the 11th of February, check with your EPAOs. I have seen the requirements vary between EPAOs. Some of them appear to have been quite risk averse in reducing documentation requirements. Essentially, there's no need for an EPO to require anything beyond the funding rules and to simply have confirmation from the provider that they have adhered to the new rules. But if an EPAO wishes to go further, they can. But if doing so, they must remember providers can choose their EPAOs and will no doubt factor in whether they wish to continue to engage EPAOs with excessive expectations beyond the requirements of the funding rules.
