Returning learner previously early leaver

Previous withdrawals that resume should be recorded as restarts but you do not record the original start date.

Thank you Martin

By doing so does this mean they can be less than a year LOS as long as the original time on programme and the new LOS both add up to the minimum duration?

Is this the same for learners transferring in from another provider too?

I was looking into this last week as we had a similar case. Previously this would have made them ineligible but I found that the ESFA introduced an exception to this rule wef 1 Aug 2020. I have copied the info we have below

Previously, when we were notified of a change in role/regime for an existing apprentice we often had to withdraw them from the apprenticeship because, although they still had some learning left to complete, they had completed too much learning on a previously  which meant they no longer had 12 months study left.

The full explanation of the new rule is in ESFA funding guide 2020/2021 para EP45. 

This enables apprentices, staying on the same standard, to resume their apprenticeship, rather than having to navigate the challenges of undertaking another minimum period of training and ensuring that includes a further minimum 20 per cent of off the job training.

I was looking into this last week as we had a similar case. Previously this would have made them ineligible but I found that the ESFA introduced an exception to this rule wef 1 Aug 2020. I have copied the info we have below

Previously, when we were notified of a change in role/regime for an existing apprentice we often had to withdraw them from the apprenticeship because, although they still had some learning left to complete, they had completed too much learning on a previously  which meant they no longer had 12 months study left.

The full explanation of the new rule is in ESFA funding guide 2020/2021 para EP45. 

This enables apprentices, staying on the same standard, to resume their apprenticeship, rather than having to navigate the challenges of undertaking another minimum period of training and ensuring that includes a further minimum 20 per cent of off the job training.

Sorry - I didn't mean to send it twice - I'm new! Also I should have added that I am not sure if the exception applies to all learner providers or if it only applies to employer providers (which we are)

See the funding rules:

Exceptions to the minimum duration requirement

P45 The only exceptions to the minimum duration requirement are where an apprentice:

P45.1 Is made redundant with more than six, but less than 12 months remaining before their final day. In these cases, they may seek a further apprenticeship agreement which takes their prior apprenticeship experience into account. This further agreement may provide for a duration of less than 12 months.

P45.2 Returns to the same apprenticeship after a break in learning or withdrawal.

P45.3 Transfers between main providers but remains on the same standard.

P46 For the exceptions in paragraph P45 above you must have evidence that the total amount of time spent on their apprenticeship, which may include more than one episode of learning, meets the minimum duration requirement.

Thank you Martin and Rebecca 

I knew I had seen that but the service desk informed us we should only use this option for learners who were coming back from a break and not those that had previously been withdrawn which is why I doubted myself. 

Much appreciated.