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Jennifer Donnellan

Apprentice paying for content?

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Hi All,

If an apprentice willingly pays for content, access to courses etc that will help with OTJ for their apprenticeship are they allowed to claim it as OTJ?  I know the funding rules are clear that an apprentice cannot be ASKED to contribute to any costs but I'm just wondering what the situation is whereby an apprentice is interested in learning more, wants access to more content and pays for it without any request/pressure from the employer or learning provider.

thanks,

Jenny

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Ruth Canham-James

You'd have to make sure it was all required content for the KSBs, otherwise it's not OTJ (79.3). It would also have to be in work hours.

Also, how does that fit with paragraph 83 and 90, that all OTJ activity should be agreed in advance?

My gut says no. All the necessary content should already be being delivered, and should meet the planned OTJ without this self-study. There's no need to add more stuff as OTJ if you've already met the plan. There's nothing stopping them doing it, but I would be uncomfortable counting it as OTJ.

Jennifer Donnellan

Hi Ruth,

Thanks for your reply.

The OTJ gained by the learner would be extra OTJ, in addition to what was planned by the provider.   It would be used to go over the required minimum hours. 

Ruth Canham-James

There are no prizes or extra funding for doing more OTJ than planned, so play it safe and don't record as OTJ. 

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