Restart Questions

Not all scenarios are in the guidance, you just have to apply principles you do know, and experience! :)

Yes, code as restart, but without the original start date.

I think the new band maximum will apply, because if you don't record the original start date, how would the systems know what band maximum applied last time?

By the same logic, you should find only 5% is required for the restart.

I could be wrong, because the ESFA do tie the periods together when working out capping you at band maximum, minus funding already received, and that works cross provider. You could always delay invoicing until the enrolment has been in an ILR, and you've seen what apprenticeship reports say is due. The first reports will also show whether your price was more than the band maximum applied minus funding you already had.

Thanks Ruth, much appreciated. Everything you've said is what I was going to go with but just after posting on here, I decided to email the help desk with exactly the same questions and they have just replied -  

Thank you for contacting ESFA Customer Service.
Yes, you will need to record the Restart Indicator, and the original learning start date.
As this is a restart of the same apprenticeship, if the learner was previously enrolled with yourself on the prior episodes of learning, the price recorded on the new aim should be the same as the old aim, unless you have renegotiated the cost of the entire apprenticeship.
As the learner started in 2018, the learner will be funded as per the applicable funding rules as of their very first day of learning. In this instance, yes, the employer will be required to co-investment 10% contributions where required. Price cap (funding band limit) applies to new starts on a particular apprenticeship programme. As this is a restart and not a new start, the original funding band limit will apply.

Not that I don't trust their advice (!) but I'm now in a bit of a quandary as I don't want to be in a position where we have collected too much or too little co-investment or exceed the (new) funding band limit. I would like to get it on the ILR then look at the reports to see how they are calculating but the new employer wants to know in advance what the monetary commitment is. I think I'll give them worst case scenario and hope it doesn't deter them!

Thanks again for responding.

Oh good grief. They are definitely wrong. This is the ILR Spec guidance on original start date;

• This field should be used to collect the original learning start date if the learner is restarting the learning aim at the same provider, for example if they are returning from an agreed break in learning. It should be completed on the new learning aim record that is added when the learner returns from their break in learning.

• This data will be used by the ESFA to fund the learning aim at the same rate for the duration of the learning aim. If a learner is returning to a learning aim they have previously withdrawn from (for a reason other than an agreed break in learning) then the original learning start date is not returned unless otherwise specified in the ILR guidance documents.

I'm not aware of any places it says to use the original start date in that circumstance. Also, the guidance headed "Recording restarts (without an agreed break in learning)" here;

https://guidance.submit-learner-data.service.gov.uk/psm/article/recording-breaks-in-learning-transfers-and-restarts

It says not to return that field. You should put in a complaint about their misinformation.

Just jumping on this as I have something similar.

As this learner withdrew in a previous funding year and would not have rolled into the current year, can it still be classed as a restart?? We have such an example at the moment. Withdrawn September 2021 but has decided he wants to finish the Apprenticeship, he only has a few pieces of work to complete so cannot be a new start as he will never hit minimum duration. I'm thinking it can't be done as a restart??

Kate Nicholson

If it's the exact same apprenticeship, it just is a restart. You will get capped at the band maximum, taking into account any funds already drawn down for that student on that standard. The main thing about using the restart indicator, is that is stops you getting errors if your new duration or planned OTJ are lower than the usual minimums. It used to be impossible to restart with less than a year to go, but they resolved that a while ago, and you can have a duration below a year as long as it's flagged as a restart. If your delivery team think it's possible for him to complete, and his employer is willing to agree it all, then it's fine.