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Hi,
The funding rules require a price reduction where training content is omitted from the training plan (rule 29). If there's no reduction in OTJ, then there's no need to reduce the price for this reason. If there's no reduction in OTJ, then on the Apprenticeship Service you would select "No" to the RPL question.
You can still proceed with the £60 discount, as prices can be negotiated with the employer, but the justification can't be linked to a reduction in training. As you point out, on a 12 month programme there cannot be any reduction in OTJ otherwise the minimum duration requirement will not be met (there are 4 exceptions to the minimum duration requirement stated in rule 66 but this situation is not one).
Our shortest apprenticeship is 13 months, so we don't run into this issue ourselves. If a learner has too much RPL for that 13 month course, then it no longer becomes suitable for them and we look at the higher level version. We also have a fixed method for determining starting prices and course durations:
1) An RPL assessment determines amount of OTJ hours required to be delivered. Programmes elements are broken down into hours and those required are totalled to determine overall OTJ (this has to be over 278, see rule 73.3)
2) The OTJ requirement is used to calculate the total price as per rules 29.2.1 and 29.2.2 (deduct half of the RPL percentage from the funding band maximum). This is the maximum funding price for the apprenticeship that is the basis for rest of the negotiation.
3) Determine the duration of the course by dividing the total hours by how much OTJ the learner can complete each week. Ensure that minimum durations are met and that the amount of OTJ given per week by the employer is at least 20% of their working hours (capped at 30).
Hope this helps..
James Wallis
RPL - 12 Month Apprenticeship
Created
Hi all,
We've had an apprentice signed up for a 12 month (plus a day) apprenticeship. It likes there have been limited RPL but enough for the team to consider slight deduction. They have opted to just reduce the price (by £60) as any reduction on the duration will take the apprentice below the minimum of 12 months duration.
I have tried to process this on the DAS record before sending to the employer to approve, but choosing "Yes" to the RPL screen gives me the option to input the Total OTJ hours, the reduction in hours, yes/no to if we have actually reduced the duration due to RPL and then by how much. However, it looks like I need to complete the total OTJ hours and how much they were reduced by but the reduced by box doesn't allow a 0 and does not save, meaning this record is not "complete" for the employer to approve, only review and edit.
Few questions:
As we haven't actually deducted any of the duration, should we be deducting any of the fees?
Because the RPL was so slight, should we really be recording a £60 reduction (but then we've considered this student to have enough knowledge to warrant a deduction, we just cannot apply it?)
What is best practice in this situation?
Thanks in advance.