Functional Skills

Yes, if you don't put it on the ILR you won't get paid!

If the learner gets to the end of their App and hasn't passed their FS there are two options:

1. If the learner is leaving you, you just close them off as 3&3 withdrawn on the same dates as when they go to Gateway. As English and Maths aren't included in any App quality measures, there is no penalty for doing this

2. If the learner is staying with you to do their L3, you can leave them open and close them off when they do pass (which they'll have to to get to L3 Gateway).

Slightly interested in this one Steve Hewitt.

Completely understand/agree with the desire to keep the funding for the level 2, on the basis that it's been delivered, but do you think that the highlighted part below suggests that all funding is contingent upon them having taken the assessment? Meaning that if they haven't done so, you have to give it all back (i.e., withdraw back to the start)?

P140.2 Where the apprentice already holds approved level 1 qualifications: 

Apprentices must start, continue to study and take the assessments for a level 2 English and / or maths (Functional Skills level 2 or GCSE). This requirement must be fulfilled before the apprentice takes the endpoint assessment. Apprentices should be assessed at level 2 for all three units of the English Functional Skills and the assessment for maths.

Hmmm, interesting. "I'm not sure" is my short answer. I guess it would be an audit check because there's no other way to see they've attempted the tests. Did they take back the money previously if there was no evidence of them doing the tests? Never ended up in that situation...

Hi All,

Thank you for your answers. I am still a bit confused. Do we report the component aims for FS L2 when it is not required on ILR? Or are we required to provide support in numeracy and literacy during their apprenticeship programme and keep the evidence that we support them?

Regards

Aisha

Ah, good point, you only include the actual FS2 aim if they're actively taking/working towards the qualification itself (and you want to claim money for it!). In a situation where the learner is exempt but you are still doing some M&E as part of their Standard to help them regain/remember things, then you wouldn't record it in the ILR (although I'm sure our friends at Ofsted would be interested in it as part of the learners' programmes).

Hi Steve,

Thank you for your response. I thought so too. I believe Ofsted would like to see how we support and record our support to our apprentices to progress to a higher level of numeracy and literacy.