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If all you did was an assessment, and it was decided they needed no further delivery, you wouldn't be claiming funding anyway, so evidence doesn't matter.
If it was decided they did need delivery, so you did end up claiming funding, I'm still not sure you could use that as the start date. If it were a timetabled lesson, in which you happened to do a mock assessment, then maybe?
Thanks Ruth. It's an interesting one actually as I've only just started working with this provider. The FS subcontractor conducts the initial assessment/diagnostic, and formulates an individual skills plan (ISP) for the apprentice to suggest what they need to work on. They're then given access to all of the necessary learning materials, and have regular 'catch-ups' with the provider to assess progress. Once the ISP has been completed, they're asked to complete mock exams (which they need to pass), then actual exams.
I was initially a bit concerned to be honest.. because to me, I'm not sure any of that actually constitutes 'delivery' of FS, in so much as it's just giving the apprentices the tools to do it themselves.
In this instance, the apprentice didn't even do the ISP because they were assessed as not needing to.. and instead went straight to the mock exam. I don't personally think we should be claiming for this FS, and I'm very much on the fence about the process entirely.
Hmmm. When audited, we've always been asked for an initial assessment. If the initial assessment says they're already working at level 2, we don't claim funding, we just enter for exams (that's typically those who probably did get a qual, btu can't find certs).
My analogy for this last week was washing cars. If someone cleans my already clean car, and I already told them not to, why would I pay for that? They may have spent time and money doing it, but it didn't need doing. ESFA won't pay us to clean already clean cars. Checking whether the car is already clean, is not reason for payment.
The instance you're talking about, we definitely wouldn't claim funding.
Ben James
Mock assessment as evidence of 'learning' for FS
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What are people's thoughts on accepting the completion of a mock assessment in maths/English as evidence of them starting 'learning'? In this particular case the apprentice was not deemed to need any other curriculum based training, and went straight into mocks. I'm having a debate with our FS provider..