Victoria Mansfield commented, 06 June 2022 14:23

Ah thanks both! So, it sounds like the 'where relevant' get-out clause might only apply to maths and English, not occupational competency... Designing diagnostic testing to capture competency against 40-50 KSBs in time for new starts on 1st August seems quite a tall order, but I suppose they'd say this is why they're now including it as something we can include in our costs (even though the funding bands haven't changed and it's harder to charge a top-up if I'm reading P97 correctly). Righto... 

1. Diagnostic testing of occupational competence

Ah thanks both! So, it sounds like the 'where relevant' get-out clause might only apply to maths and English, not occupational competency... Designing diagnostic testing to capture competency again...

Victoria Mansfield commented, 17 May 2021 08:40

Hi all, I tried that recently but no dice - the service desk told me: Thank you for contacting the ESFA Service Centre.    You need to amend to a withdrawal from the break in learning date and then record a new start as per the PSM, return without an agreed break. Recording restarts (without an agreed break in learning)  The following guidance applies in scenarios such as where a learner has withdrawn from their learning for a reason other than an agreed break in learning or transfer, and subsequently returns to learning on the same aim(s).  When the learner withdraws, their learning aims must be closed with the relevant code in the Withdrawal reason field. Refer to guidance for recording leaner absence or withdrawal.  If the learner later returns to learning, the new aims must be created. Refer to guidance below for recording new aims when a learner restarts..  The original learning aims must not be re-opened.  PSM 2021-22. Provider support manual: Recording breaks in learning, transfers and restarts (fasst.org.uk) 

1. Break in learning then change employer

Hi all, I tried that recently but no dice - the service desk told me: Thank you for contacting the ESFA Service Centre.  You need to amend to a withdrawal from the break in learning date and then r...

Victoria Mansfield commented, 03 March 2025 11:35

Thanks Rowena, it's reassuring to know you've taken the same approach. Also, I've just realised that your post was from Oct 2023 - for some reason I thought it was Oct 2024 - so I'm sorry for reopening such an old thread I'm sure you've long since moved on from! 😏

1. change from full to part time

Thanks Rowena, it's reassuring to know you've taken the same approach. Also, I've just realised that your post was from Oct 2023 - for some reason I thought it was Oct 2024 - so I'm sorry for reope...

Victoria Mansfield commented, 28 February 2025 17:26

Hi Rowena Hunter, I don't suppose you ever found out the answer to this did you? I have a learner (23/24 starter) who has completed more than a year on programme already at full time hours (so has met the minimum duration already), and is about to go on mat leave. She wants to work 28 hours per week after she returns. I've just been on with the DAS helpdesk and they've said that I need to extend the duration of the remainder of the programme based on her new hours, but weren't able to give guidance on how to do this. Maybe: 30 (standard FT hours) / 28 (new part time hours) = 1.071 198 (days of programme remaining at normal FT progress rate) x 1.071 = 212 days And her minimum OTJ would remain the same because it's all just extended proportionately? Hopefully you got an answer from somewhere on this one and aren't still stuck as well! 🤞

1. change from full to part time

Hi Rowena Hunter, I don't suppose you ever found out the answer to this did you? I have a learner (23/24 starter) who has completed more than a year on programme already at full time hours (so has ...

Victoria Mansfield commented, 18 February 2025 10:02

Hi all, am I being daft or are we still required to do an assessment of a learner's current level on English and maths (where they don't have prior quals) even for new starts over the age of 19 who don't want to do English and maths? 54. If an apprentice does not have acceptable evidence of previous attainment of English and / or maths the provider must carry out an assessment of their current level.   54.1. The provider must use current assessment tools based on the National Standards for Adult Literacy and Numeracy: Functional Skills: English and Subject content Functional Skills: Mathematics.  The assessment outcome is used to determine the level the apprentice must start working towards and does not remove the requirement to achieve the minimum required level in English and maths (see paragraphs 48 to 50).  The wording in 54.1 suggests it should only apply to those who will be doing English and maths - but the placement of the section seems to suggest it applies to all learners. Have I just not had enough coffee yet?  It means we'll still have to beg learners to dig their GCSE certs and marriage/name change certs out of whatever loft they might be in or (as they'll see it) 'take a maths test', even though they know they don't need maths anymore... Hopefully I'm wrong. Please tell me I'm wrong! ;) EDIT 27 FEB 2025: I asked the above question of the helpdesk at the same time and received an answer yesterday: Thank you for your query regarding the new rules for English and Maths.   I can confirm that rule 54 will only need to be followed if it is agreed that the apprentice will be completing the functional skills.   If they are aged 19 or older and it is agreed that they will not be completing the functional skills, then this assessment at rule 54 would not apply.   I hope this clarification is useful.

1. Functional Skill EPA requirements

Hi all, am I being daft or are we still required to do an assessment of a learner's current level on English and maths (where they don't have prior quals) even for new starts over the age of 19 who...

Victoria Mansfield commented, 16 December 2024 09:59

I'm not getting that exact message, but instead I'm getting a screen full of little Xs that say "Error fetching data for this visual".  Also, I haven't had any updates to the data shown since R14 - has anyone else had it show more recent data?

1. AAF dashboard failing to load

I'm not getting that exact message, but instead I'm getting a screen full of little Xs that say "Error fetching data for this visual".  Also, I haven't had any updates to the data shown since R14 -...

Victoria Mansfield commented, 20 September 2024 15:51

Thanks Steve - you've saved me some crying into my keyboard time this Friday afternoon ;) 🙏

1. R13 withdrawal: cont in R01, disappeared in R02 - problem?

Thanks Steve - you've saved me some crying into my keyboard time this Friday afternoon ;) 🙏

Victoria Mansfield commented, 30 July 2024 08:42

Hmm. If you can get a termination notice from emp 1 citing the reason for termination as redundancy, then yes - but if it's just a tender change and the learner is still actually employed I suspect they'd be reluctant to issue that. Also, unless the learner is near the end of their practical period, the redundancy arrangements are only going to buy you 12 weeks of grace period. If the learner didn't return to learning from their BiL within that 12 weeks, you'd still have to withdraw them anyway...  My QAR knowledge is pretty rudimentary - does anyone know if you get still penalised for withdrawals who subsequently restart with you?

1. Break in learning then change employer

Hmm. If you can get a termination notice from emp 1 citing the reason for termination as redundancy, then yes - but if it's just a tender change and the learner is still actually employed I suspect...

Victoria Mansfield commented, 29 July 2024 12:02

Ah, thanks Sam Bern. Same here - it seemed to get fixed with the update to the dashboard on 23 July. Thanks for the confirmation it wasn't just us - that's a relief because the initial response from the helpdesk was that the problem was in our ILR data. 

1. Accountability Dashboard - Breaks in Learning

Ah, thanks Sam Bern. Same here - it seemed to get fixed with the update to the dashboard on 23 July. Thanks for the confirmation it wasn't just us - that's a relief because the initial response fro...

Victoria Mansfield commented, 22 July 2024 11:59

Reopening an old thread because I'm concerned we've got the same issue happening again - I've got learners appearing on my over 365 day BiL list on the accountability framework dashboard who have already returned from BiL and in some cases already successfully completed... Anyone else?!

1. Accountability Dashboard - Breaks in Learning

Reopening an old thread because I'm concerned we've got the same issue happening again - I've got learners appearing on my over 365 day BiL list on the accountability framework dashboard who have a...