Apprenticeships and End-point Assessment Operating during the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Apprenticeships and End-point Assessment

Operating during the current national restrictions

Webinar Content

§ Information on the current apprenticeship landscape § Challenges for End-point assessment and possible solutions § Opportunity to ask questions and provide information

Information on the current apprenticeship landscape

Tony Allen CEO of Allen Apprenticeships and Skills www.a-a-s.co.uk

ESFA response

§ Disappointing! § Extensions to timescales – 12 weeks § Break in Learning § EPAOs can suggest flexibilities to delivery of EPA to EQAs § No changes in funding arrangements

IFATE response

§ Delivery can be done remotely where this is possible § Gateway can be conducted remotely § Delivery ‘order’ of methods can be flexed § Still need to ensure proper levels of security e.g. –invigilation § Can be further changes if the EQA agrees § No re-writing of EPAPs. Delay is the only option where it is not possible to undertake the EPA without face to face.

Other issues

§ Furloughed apprentices:

• 1. Cannot work, but can be trained
• 2. Training providers and EPAOs continue to be paid
• 3. Where it can be done, EPA can be done with a furloughed

apprentice § ESFA have made some almost unrelated changes around suspending audits and closing RoATP to new entrants after 15th April.

So where does this leave us?

§ Where it is possible to undertake training and EPAs remotely, then you can § If in doubt seek advice from your EQAO § There is the possibility that EPA could be temporarily set aside, allowing training providers to sign-off apprentices § Keep up to date, especially with ESFA / IFATE announcements

Information on the current apprenticeship landscape

Joe Ryan End-point Assessment Manager - retailTRUST www.retailtrust.org.uk

Challenges for EPA, options and solutions

§ Apprentices at gateway but cannot pass through § Apprentices already through gateway stage but restrictions mean some or all elements of the EPA cannot go ahead

Option 1 – Modification to EPA arrangements

§ Modification of our end-point assessment arrangements: I. Face to face assessments can be modified II. Must get agreement from EQAP, this would be done by the EPAO

• III. Think outside the box!
• IV. Keep things robust and fair but also allow the apprentice to

undertake EPA

Option 2 – Re-schedule EPA activity

§ Re-scheduling of end-point assessments I. Some elements, such as observations may not be able to be

• completed. These elements can be re-scheduled

II. EPAOs must work with EQAPs where an extension is required to allow re-scheduling

• III. This needs to be monitored on a week by week basis…

Option 3(Last resort) – Break in learning

§ Apprentices whose gateways are delayed can take a break before taking their EPA: I. Can take a break in learning and can be extended beyond he assessment plan limit II. End-point Assessment Organisations (EPAOs) are responsible for agreeing extensions

• III. EPAOs must work with their External Quality Assurance Providers

(EQAP)s

Questions?

Can be E-mailed to Joe – jryan@retailtrust.org.uk

Resources – Guidance for apprenticeships

Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education: § https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/response-to-covid-19/ Government response to COVID-19 regarding apprenticeships: § https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship- programme-response Information about wage retention scheme: § https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job- retention-scheme