Subcontracting Standards

Others use the Non-regulated component aim for recording any subcontract for the standard.

HTH

Yeah, would be tempted to bung another Z code component on just to record the subby?

I can see why Martin, but I believe this is fundamentally wrong, because that aim has never represented delivery. We don't subcontract out an admin bodge. What happens when they eventually get rid of it (I assume they will) once frameworks are all done and it becomes redundant?

If ESFA are interested, they need to make it explicit in the rules that you have to create a non-reg aim for this purpose. Alternatively, just allow us to record it on the already existing Programme Aim where I think it rightfully belongs. Until either of those things happens, they can't tell us off for not recording it in the ILR.

The original guidance for FM 36 (Guidance for returning apprenticeships on the ILR from 1 May 2017)

3.1 Recording apprenticeship programmes

34. Apprenticeship programmes are composed of one programme aim and at least one component learning aim.
35. All learning undertaken as part of the apprenticeship programme, including regulated qualifications and non-regulated learning activity, must be recorded on the ILR.

If you are subcontracting any part of the programme  this must/should be covered by one of the aims required in 35.

HTH

But the non-regulated aim in question isn't learning activity, it can't be, because it doesn't need to exist unless you have no other component aims. If even a Functional Skill is there, we don't return a non-reg aim, therefore it's meaningless.

The only aim that represents the content being delivered by the subcontractor, is the Programme Aim, that is the fact.

If you legitimately do some additional learning activity that is non-regulated and isn't part of the standard itself, then yes, that is learning activity, and could be coded as subcontracted if someone else does any delivery on it.

The current guidance is the same: https://guidance.submit-learner-data.service.gov.uk/22-23/psm/article/guidance-for-apprenticeship-programmes#article-Recording%20learning%20aims%20for%20apprenticeship%20programmes

Recording learning aims for apprenticeship programmes

For apprenticeship programmes, you must record an aim that describes the overall apprenticeship programme. This aim is known as the ‘programme aim’ and is recorded using the Learning aim reference ‘ZPROG001’.

You must record all learning undertaken as part of the apprenticeship programme, including regulated qualifications and non-regulated learning activity; this learning is recorded as ‘component aims’ using the appropriate Learning aim references from the LARS database.

All apprenticeship programmes must be recorded with one programme aim and at least one component learning aim.

For an apprenticeship standard, if no regulated qualifications are undertaken, then you must record one of the non-regulated learning aims from Category E of the Learning Aim Class Codes’ document (refer to Section 15 Related Links to Documents and Information).

The Aim type field is used to identify whether a learning aim is a programme aim or component aim:

The programme aim is recorded with Aim type code 1

Component aims are recorded with Aim type code 3

The programme aim may have a start date, end date, completion status and outcome that differs from the component aims

HTH

Just had a thought  about this. It's similar to the way we physically can't report subcontracting on EEP activity. These is no learning aim, just hours, but we very occasionally have subcontracted it out, but can't report it in our ILR. 

Martin West  - None of that guidance says that any other aim represents learning delivery on the Standard itself, because it doesn't. It's clear in the guidance that we need a Z00 code only if there are no other component aims. In my case, there are other component aims. It's a total bodge to add a Z00 just because we're subcontracting out the Standard, and ESFA haven't given us a proper mechanism to report that.

Steve Hewitt Martin West

I just had a reply from ESFA on this. I asked;

We are currently subcontracting out a small part of an apprenticeship Standard we are running. The only aims we're returning in the ILR are the Standard Programme Aim, and a mandatory BTEC component. We're not subcontracting out the BTEC part at all, so I can't record the subcontractor UKPRN on there. The ILR Specification specifically says not to record a Partner UKPRN on Programme Aims, so I can't record it on there either. This means we are unable to report in our ILR that we are subcontracting this Apprenticeship. If that's not acceptable to ESFA, how else could we record the Partner UKPRN?

They replied;

Thank you for contacting ESFA Customer Service.
Just note the apprenticeship evidence file, regarding the sub contracting.

Kind Regards.                          
Andy
ESFA Customer Service

So no need for a non-reg code apparently. I'm not sure everyone at ESFA would be happy with that reply, but I have it in writing.