Gina Bowles

EHCP - Apprenticeship Additional Payments

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Hi All

I am getting conflicting messages from the funding guidance,  before I start the round robin of login a ticket with the helpdesk just wondered if anyone could help me with this one.

The question is to qualify 16-18 does the apprentices have to have an in date EHC plan?

The provider support manual suggests the following:

For apprenticeships funded through Funding model 36, the Learning Delivery FAM type ‘Eligibility for enhanced apprenticeship funding’ (EEF) should be used to indicate eligibility for additional payments.

EEF code 2

Entitlement to 16-18 apprenticeship funding where the learner is 19 or over.

Record EEF code 2 when:

  • the apprentice is restarting a programme on or after their 19th birthday and was aged 16 to 19 when they originally started.
  • the apprentice is aged 19-24 and has an EHC plan.
  • The apprentice has transferred to a new apprenticeship pathway within the same framework, was aged 16-18 at the start of the programme, and is aged 19+ when they transfer to the new pathway. This only applies when the original programme was funded through Funding model 36.

The funding rules state:

The flexibility section states that the EHC can be historic 

Anyone got any ideas or clarification before I go to the helpdesk please

Thank you in advance

Gina

 

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Ruth Canham-James

You just automatically get Additional Payments for all 16-18 year olds, regardless of EHCP status. You also get them for 19-24 year olds with an EHCP (if you code then as EEF2):

(Edited)

Gina Bowles

Thanks Ruth but does the EHC need to be in date and a live document - previous guidance has reference statements etc (that are really old) but the guidance above states 'has' and EHC which would indicate that it needs to be current.

This is just so confusing 

Ruth Canham-James

The EHCP has to still have been "maintained" at the enrolment start date for you to record them as having an EHCP in the ILR, in any circumstance (though I can't find that in any rules!). If they're a 19-24 apprentice, that's also the case if you want to waive the 5% co-investment and/or claim the Additional Payment. EHCPs can cease to be maintained mid apprenticeship, but as long as they were current at the start date, it's fine.

If they're an apprentice and under 19 at the start date, it doesn't practically make any difference to anything other than whether you tick the EHCP box. You'll get the Additional Payment because they're 16-18, not because they have an EHCP.

(Edited)

Ruth Canham-James

Which flexibility bit says it can be historic? I can only see that on the English and maths guidance, which won't be the same as the Programme funding rules.

Gina Bowles

Thanks Ruth - that has really helped me understand - I was missing the 'maintained' bit - this makes sense as the SENDCo could maintain them. 

Currently only in the flexibilities bit....but previous mentions to statements in really old funding rules. 

Thank you once again for the huge amount of clarity.

 

Ruth Canham-James

To be fair, it just doesn't say anything in the rules, it's my interpretation. The ILR Spec doesn't specify on the EHC field, none of the funding rules say, they just use the present tense of "have" and "has". To me, that means a current "maintained" EHCP. It would open a whole can of worms to accept expired EHCPs, as what would your cut off be? What if it was ceased when they were 16, and they're now 21? Is that appropriate to fund them as 16-18? 

Gina Bowles

Hi Ruth you are so right - it is another grey area....I fully agree with your interpretation of the rules, the bit I was missing and could not wrap my head around was the maintenance of it. Which you really well described and it was a definite that makes sense moment for me...

If they are expired you can use them as guidance to support but treating as 16-18 adds all the other bits to it as well, English and maths being one of those things

Gina