New Funding rules Apprenticeships 25/26

The "Published" hours are the ones in Annex C.

Do you mean, will it be ok if they meet the minimum OTJ hours for that Standard, even if they didn't meet the Planned OTJ if it was higher than the minimum? Like we used to have to get employer approval if they finished early (but still within the rules)? In the blue box at the top of page 41 it says:

Policy change: As we are publishing a minimum off-the-job training hours requirement for each standard and removing the delivery link between these hours and the duration, there is no longer a need to obtain an employer statement where the actual hours delivered are less than the planned hours. We have therefore removed this section.  

1. There will now be a transition period of 6 months– so the new minimum hours will apply to new starts from 1^st Jan 2026

1. This protects existing delivery models where the OTJ hours are currently under the new minimum levels. You can continue with planned programmes for starts from 1^st August as they are until it changes 1^st Jan.

1. DfE will republish the minimum OTJ hours in January.

1. They acknowledge there has been concerns over some standards and how the hours have been calculated. If you have not raised a specific standard with them, you will only have until the end of June to do so.

1. This includes those of you who have raised concerns about shorter apprenticeships and these becoming unfeasible as a result of increased hours.

1. If you have already raised an issue for a standard, you will likely have had communication with DfE. These standards will be sent to Skills England to review content and determine whether the minimum hours and content align. Please note, if Skills England reduce any content as a result of this, they may reduce the funding band.

Tracy Clement Where did that come from? I can't find that anywhere when I google it. 

Hi Ruth,

  Yeah concerned by that statement above by Tracy, i have not seen that anywhere and are planning to align with the new minimum requirement from September 2025.

Wayne

I  understand will be formally announced by DfE at conference next week. Multiple people confirmed on Bud funding webinar yesterday.

Hi Tracy,

Well if that is the case then that is ridiculous as its in the current 2025/2026 rules stating its from August, its very poor planning and typical of this sector over the last four years.

Wayne

Has anybody heard anything about the potential change mentioned above (that the standardised OTJ is from January not 1st August)? I thought it would've been officially released by now but I haven't seen anything online that mentions it :-(

We're the same holiding off updating some of our paperwork, however we're hoping to get it out by the end of the week. Failing that we'll start working towards the new OTJT minimum as that's the latest published guidance for August 1st. Our induction work for these learners will run in July. 

DfE will publish version 2 of the funding rules including a refreshed annex c in early July. List of changes published in FE week: https://feweek.co.uk/dfe-agrees-transitional-period-for-new-off-the-job-policy/

I was hoping something was going to be announced today in the DFE update. But looks like it'll be next week now?

It feels odd showing this news article to my team and explaining why we don't have induction materials ready for learners entering IAG. We've had to spend a lot of time explaining to learners and employers howw OTJT is calculated, what counts etc

I went to the training that the DFE offered for these rule changes and they made a point of stating that they'd included the sector in the establishment of these rules which is why they felt comfortable releasing them so late and the changes being so far reaching. 

I hope there are still discussions going on and more will change.