Sarah Stephens-Lewis

Early EPA

Created

None

Hi,

We have a learner that has completed everything within their Teaching Assistant Standard including the 20% time and has been accepted onto a teaching training course in London which is a fantastic achievement and technically a good outcome.  However, she did not start her app with us until 5th October 2020 and would leave her school in July in order to start this course in September.  As this is such a positive outcome, is there any way that we can put her into her EPA after 10 months?! It is such a shame for her and us that there will be no achievement due to the funding regulations :-(

Thanks in advance.... 

Replies

No one has replied to this post.


Melanie Aspinall

Unfortunately, as she won't have met the minimum duration of 12 months, she will not be eligible in the eyes of the ESFA. It's a shame but it's one of the ESFA's main bug bears as a funding rule really.

Sarah Stephens-Lewis

Thank you so much for your reply.  I am so gutted as it doesn't benefit anyone. Luckily for her, we embed a nationally recognised qualification inside so at least she will walk away with something.

Martin West

No the ESFA cannot give any exception as the 12 months min duration is a requirement of the Apprenticeship Act regulations 2017 where it makes it a condition that each such apprenticeship agreement must provide for a practical period of not less than 12 months.

Its not only the funding rules as it is specified by an Act of Parliament.