We use cookies to collect
information about how you use ‘Get help with DfE services’. We use this information to make the
website work as well as possible and improve government services.
You will be able to post, reply and subscribe once DfE approves your account for this community.
Becky O'Brien
Apprenticeship repeating first year, how to handle?
Created
None
A bit of a new scenario for us here, as we've previously not had apprenticeships that work this way.
We have a couple of apprentices who have exceeded the maximum number of exam attempts to pass their first year of what should be a three year apprenticeship (level 6). It is a requirement from the awarding/assessment body that they pass the first year before moving to the second. It is also a requirement that they repeat the first year (or possibly just part of it). I will add that we run a very similar course without the end point assessment for privately funded learners.
I'd like some advice/opinions on how we handle this. I've had some thoughts, but I don't know what to advise the delivery team.
1. They could just continue on the apprenticeship, repeating the first year, and then if they do end up completing, they will be a year overdue. We'd then have to charge the employer directly for the final year.
I'm almost sure that the repeated learning WOULD be ok to be counted as OTJ, as while not completely new to them, it's clear that they are not yet fully competent.
What I'm not wild about is the employer paying for the repeated year only at the end. If this weren't an apprenticeship, the repeated year would be paid for by the employer at the time, and I don't know if this delay in charging them would be properly understood or accepted when the final year commences.
Also it's possible that they wouldn't have to repeat everything and that there would be months without delivery, hence the need to put them on break and restart them. I wouldn't mind doing this once, especially as then we could revise the planned end date, but we know from experience that multiple breaks get very tricky.
2. Put them on a break from apprenticeship funding, let them continue with the employer paying for the repeated year, and then resume them if they pass.
I'm not sure that this is really what a break should be used for, especially as they would be continuing in learning that meets the KSBs of the standard.
3. Withdraw them. Let them continue with the employer paying for the repeated year, and then restart them on the apprenticeship if they pass.
This one will negatively impact our QAR.
4. Withdraw them. Let them continue with the employer paying for ALL subsequent training.
Again, hits our QAR, but is in many ways the most simple solution.
Becky O'Brien
Apprenticeship repeating first year, how to handle?
Created
A bit of a new scenario for us here, as we've previously not had apprenticeships that work this way.
We have a couple of apprentices who have exceeded the maximum number of exam attempts to pass their first year of what should be a three year apprenticeship (level 6). It is a requirement from the awarding/assessment body that they pass the first year before moving to the second. It is also a requirement that they repeat the first year (or possibly just part of it). I will add that we run a very similar course without the end point assessment for privately funded learners.
I'd like some advice/opinions on how we handle this. I've had some thoughts, but I don't know what to advise the delivery team.
1. They could just continue on the apprenticeship, repeating the first year, and then if they do end up completing, they will be a year overdue. We'd then have to charge the employer directly for the final year.
I'm almost sure that the repeated learning WOULD be ok to be counted as OTJ, as while not completely new to them, it's clear that they are not yet fully competent.
What I'm not wild about is the employer paying for the repeated year only at the end. If this weren't an apprenticeship, the repeated year would be paid for by the employer at the time, and I don't know if this delay in charging them would be properly understood or accepted when the final year commences.
Also it's possible that they wouldn't have to repeat everything and that there would be months without delivery, hence the need to put them on break and restart them. I wouldn't mind doing this once, especially as then we could revise the planned end date, but we know from experience that multiple breaks get very tricky.
2. Put them on a break from apprenticeship funding, let them continue with the employer paying for the repeated year, and then resume them if they pass.
I'm not sure that this is really what a break should be used for, especially as they would be continuing in learning that meets the KSBs of the standard.
3. Withdraw them. Let them continue with the employer paying for the repeated year, and then restart them on the apprenticeship if they pass.
This one will negatively impact our QAR.
4. Withdraw them. Let them continue with the employer paying for ALL subsequent training.
Again, hits our QAR, but is in many ways the most simple solution.