Department For Education
Details
Correctly recognising prior learning and experience through an effective initial assessment is crucial to delivering quality apprenticeship programmes. It is vital that apprentices have a high-quality experience and receive the training they need, while delivering apprenticeships which work for employers, and comply with the apprenticeship funding rules. Apprenticeship funding must not be used to pay for training the apprentice does not need, or certify knowledge, skills, and behaviours the apprentice already has.
We want to support providers to be able?to?tailor apprenticeship programmes to meet individuals needs and establish the correct starting point, while also meeting?the statutory requirements about off-the-job training and minimum duration?which apply to all apprenticeships. The DfE has published guidance on how employers and training providers should meet the minimum off-the-job training hours requirement for apprentices.
This guidance reflects the priorities set out in the Skills for Jobs White Paper about delivering flexible apprenticeships, including accelerated apprenticeships, and aligning post-16 technical education to employer-led occupational standards, such as T-levels, Occupational Traineeships and Skills Bootcamps. Recognising prior learning and experience can support learners to transition into apprenticeships, and we want to support training providers to recognise this opportunity.
The Apprenticeship Funding Rules have been updated to outline the steps skills scan; accreditation of qualifications; discussion - that providers must complete as part of a robust assessment of prior learning and experience. The outcome of this assessment must be clearly documented in the evidence pack and training plan. Training providers must clearly show how their assessment has led to the development of a tailored training plan for the apprentice, along with a proportionate reduction in content and duration. A reduction in content must also result in a reduction in price. The proportionate amount of funding that the price must be reduced by, where prior learning and experience is applied, is now defined by a calculation in the funding rules.?