23/24 funding rules

a SIXTEEN PAGE changes document???

oh blimey, and here I was going to have a quiet afternoon...

Indeed sir, though part of that is definitely a result of some pretty liberal spacing haha.

Some interesting updates/clarifications though. Feel like progress review frequency has become a bit more woolly again, from a cast iron "once every 12 weeks" to "at least 4 times a year.. ideally every 12 weeks.. unless there's a 'good' reason"

The evidence section which appears in the funding rules is useful. However previously we confirmed that the learner works 50% of their time with a statement from the employer. Now it appears we'd need a typical months shift roster and a statement from the employer? 

Oh, that's a good spot, not least because it introduces a "could" into the Rules and we don't like "could"s, do we?

Where the business footprint is larger than 
England this could include a roster for a typical month for the apprentice 
along with written confirmation from the employer.

So, it's definitely not for any employer/role where it's obviously 100% England (I'm sure a Tesco Team Leader who only works in one store in Kent would be fine with just the confirmation), but yeah, it's a bit wishy-washy if anything for those who are cross-border...

A few of our employers are national in a UK sense as they are large Levy Paying employers. So I feel that they would fall under the business footprint larger then England. My reading is that if they work for a Tesco in Kent, but there exists a Tesco in Glasgow then we need to prove that there isn't a plan that they'll be moved to Glasgow. Or that they haven't just gone to Kent to work for the week. But that could just be my Funding Rules paranoia speaking.

A few on Page 11 ask for evidence instead of confirmation which seems a bit odd to me. Such as evidence of the employer, previously we ask to see the evidence and record the type and reference number. But we don't retain it as evidence. Typically this would be a payslip, or an employment contract. We don't want to retain this evidence as it could be a GDPR nightmare both making sure we have it and then keeping it secure.

They seem to be using 'evidence' and 'confirmation' which with my assessors hat on, indicates that Evidence is photocopy or scan of an original document that proves it to be true.

Oh, I already picked up on the contract bit. Remember they tried to do that last year as well and we all said NO and they backtracked? Going to have to do the same here as well.

I think there's a fair tradition (for want of a better word!) of "evidence" being noting what we've seen, not taking copies though, like on eligibility, where we'd note the visa type and expiry, not copy it.

I completely agree, fingers crossed they just don't realise what an administrative burden this would be.

I'd agree with you about the evidence part, but on Page 11 they specify where seeing it is enough, but then don't continue to do this in other places (such as contract or working location) "Confirmation that the provider has seen the learners identify document".

I think this would be part of what I'd feedback once I've been through it properly. 

I'm really grateful that they've produced these evidence sections. But would like them to have a bit more clarity.

Well, they definitely won't change things if we don't tell them ;)

Think mine will end up a little shorter than the 2,000 word epic I sent last year!