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The funding rules include:
- Any apprentice, including those who are part-time or on a zero-hours contract, can complete their apprenticeship training earlier than their extended learning planned end date, where it is practical and possible to do so, provided the minimum duration (12 months) and the minimum off-the-job hours for the actual time in training have been met.
Par 65 confirms what you understand.
Yes, I heard this recently. It feels 100% against the spirit of the rules. There's a reason a FT student can't complete in less than 12 months, and I assume that the ensure a meaningful and quality apprenticeship. How can they then allow a 15 hour a week apprentice to complete in less than 2 years?
I would strongly advise against it internally, but it seems like it wouldn't cause us any issues with ESFA. You'd hit minimum Actual OTJ if they hadn't already been doing over and above 20% OTJ I think, so that perhaps practically stops very early starts for part timers.
But is there some contradiction in the funding rules over this:
61.2. The end-point assessment can only be taken after the minimum duration has been met.
P35.4 The minimum duration of each apprenticeship is based on the apprentice working at least 30 hours a week, including any off-the-job training they undertake.
- If, at the beginning of the apprenticeship, the apprentice works fewer than 30 hours a week, or has a zero-hours contract, the provider must extend the expected duration of the apprenticeship, using one of the formulas below, and must work with the employer to make sure that the dates on the apprenticeship agreement and training plan are also extended:
63.1. 12 x 30 / average weekly hours = new minimum duration (months); or 52 x 30 / average weekly hours = new minimum duration (weeks)
As the minimum duration is over 12 months for P/T and the EPA can only be taken after the minimum duration has been met how can they be an early completion?
Martin West Exactly! So why have ESFA been saying it's ok to finish in 12 months for a part timer? I would follow the rule you just quoted about "new minimum duration".
Christina Marfleet
DfE guidance on Apprentice Minimum Duration - part time
Created
Hello,
My understanding of the apprentice minimum duration is that a learner's programme is extended to take into account the hours they work so a part time learner / term time only learner would have a longer duration then a full time person. The part time worker could then not complete their apprenticeship until the new minimum duration was met.
Here is my confusion, I attended a recent DfE Apprenticeship Funding rules webinar 2023/2024 that said a part time learner who had had their planned learning time extended to meet the funding rules could then still achieve their apprenticeship early if the statutory minimum duration and OTJ had been met. i.e the minimum duration was still only the 12 months
In the webinar minute 16ish is the dialogue that gave the guidance, it would make our life simpler and we would have some very happy employers and apprentices who are part time workers but although I forced the question in the webinar and they again reiterated the 12 months it goes against what I have always thought.
What are other peoples understanding?
https://www.gotostage.com/channel/269b8ced39024ef59429e9d0b696c1d2/recording/aaa205cedfc546bd814aba9d3266df1f/watch/3668563859166016855?source=REGISTER