Functional skills

Um, given your IA (and assuming the learner has no actual qualifications!), I can't see a problem with doing L1 and then L2 and claiming the £471 for each. It's implicit in this para:

38. For those undertaking a level 3 or higher apprenticeship, it is a requirement that 
they hold or achieve an approved level 2 in both subjects before they can 
successfully complete the apprenticeship. The apprentice must commence 
tuition at the English and maths level immediately above the level at which they 
have been assessed at the start of their apprenticeship, in instances where this 
is lower than the exit requirements. 

My emphasis, but I'm saying this says "L1 is fine if their IA is E3"?

Agree, we'd definitely fund L1 then L2 as well if we've got evidence they were working below L1 at the start. We're teaching both so earn the money.

Just picking up on this thread belatedly.  If the learner is on a L2 Standard and has L1 equivalence but is coming out with an IA at EL3, this wouldn't allow us to deliver a L1 would it? Based on what they currently 'hold' by way of APL equiv , aren't we obliged to start the L2 from the outset of the L2 App ? Steve Hewitt  Ruth Canham-James

Ben Cowdery Yeah, it does happen where they assess below a level they've achieved. The rules do specifically say (38.2) that anyone who already holds a L1 has to start and take assessments for L2 (so the initial assessment is overruled). I was working on the assumption they they have achieved neither so far as the original question would have been really easy to answer if they already held a L1.

Thanks Ruth - I wasn't challenging your answer to the original question at all but just wanted to confirm my own understanding that if they held a L1 equivalence, despite the lower IA we would be obliged to start them at L2  rather than an 'working towards L1' which you have made clear, thanks a lot as always.

Your ticket reference: 1108046
 
You previously raised an incident with our Specialist Support team regarding exemptions to functional skills where an apprentice holds a qualification at a higher level than entry level 3.
 
The Specialist Support team have been in touch today to let us know the following information:
 
Where an exemption is applied, we will except Entry Level 3 in English and/or Maths as a minimum. Provider should provide further learning to continually improve levels of Maths and/or English as appropriate.
 
Paragraph 47 in the funding rules cover this. We will aim to clarify this section further when future versions are published.
 
47. Although the apprentice will be exempt from the regular English and / or maths minimum requirements, providers must plan and evidence how the apprentice will access further literacy and numeracy development, including level 1 and level 2 courses, as part of their overall training provision, if appropriate. This rule only applies if the apprentice meets all of the criteria set out in paragraph 46. The judgement must be formal and structured and conducted by an appropriate professional associated with the provider (or subcontractor), such as the head of special educational needs (SEN) or student support, or an equivalent individual with suitable knowledge and expertise. It must include: 
47.1. A judgement of the apprentice's current English and maths ability; 
47.2. Information on how the learning difficulty or disability affects the apprentice's English and maths abilities and a clear indication of whether English and / or maths are affected; 
47.3. A judgement of the apprentice's ability to meet the regular English and maths requirements even with appropriate support in place; 
47.4. The creation of a recommended learning plan to enable the apprentice to achieve entry-level 3 functional skills in the adjusted subject(s) and, where appropriate, to continue to build on their literacy and numeracy skills by accessing further courses; and 
47.5. A copy of an education, health and care (EHC) plan (or one of the legacy equivalents: a statement of special educational need (SEN) or a learning difficulty assessment (LDA)) or the evidence of the assessment as outlined in 46.1.
 
Therefore, if your apprentice meets the exemption criteria but they hold a historic qualification at level 1, this will not preclude them from having the exemption applied.
 
I hope this clarification was useful.

Ben, took a few months but we received the above so no, we go with the IA.

Hi I have come across this feed, just wanted to confirm something. 

if a Learner was on L2 App and was doing L1 F/s they then completed and was moved up to do a L2 f/s but they didn't achieve the L2 F/s. they then moved on to L3 app and was placed back on the F/s L2 with the same provider, Does the Provider need to reduce the funding for F/S L2 or do they claim the full funding again. 

@... It depends if you're teaching the qual in full again. If you're doing full delivery and can show that, I'd say you can claim again.