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Further development on this point has identified the report logic in the PDSAT has not been updated to reflect the policy change referred to in version 2 of the 2022/23 Apprenticeship Funding Rules.
Currently, the PDSAT report ID 24A-206 continues to state:
Apprentices in scope for this report can start level 1 or below in English and/or maths prior to level 2 English and/or maths where a main/lead provider or delivery subcontractor has conducted a formal, recognised assessment that demonstrates that the apprentice needs to study at level 1 first in order to successfully achieve level 2.
I have reported this to the PDSAT help desk and requested the report logic be updated.
Just to close off this thread, the matter was escalated and the outcome of the appeal confirmed my interpretation and application of the funding rules is correct. So just to confirm, the level of functional skill learning for apprentices undertaking level 2 apprenticeships must be informed by their prior attainment and not their initial assessment.
As for the incorrect logic in the PDSAT (which I believe caused the error by the auditor), I've received a reply stating the logic remains correct and is not affected by the policy change. I've tried to escalate this but my request appears to have been ignored.
Paul Blackshaw
Functional Skills priorities for level 2 apprenticeships
Created
I'm currently helping a provider to challenge an ESFA auditor's view that apprentices without prior attainment of level 1 Maths and/or English, undertaking a level 2 apprenticeship, will need to start with level 2 functional skills if their initial assessment confirms they are already working at level 1. I thought the policy change detailed in version 2 of the 2022/23 funding rules was sufficiently clear that this former requirement had been removed:
I'm interested to know what approach providers are taking on this and whether ESFA audit confirmed your approach is correct.
Thanks in advance.