Preparing learners and employers for end point assessment

Mike Cox, Business Development Director, AELPmcox@aelp.org.uk@mikecoxone

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Model Contract• Offer for AELP members

• Leading law firm - Bircham Dyson Bell

• Providers to use with levy paying employers

• Also be used with non levy payers and employers who use both systems

• Access the document by emailing BDB aelp@bdb-law.co.uk

• Membership name and number

• Free legal helpline 0208 783 3822

• Substantial discount on any follow up legal work

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1. Understand the rules for EPA, including what is now allowed and what is not.

2. Initial learning from providers who have begun preparing learners for EPA.

3. Learn where to get further Support.4. Question and answer session.

Objectives

Expected annual starts post Oct 17

• Most employers (52%) plan to maintain apprentice levels

• Of the remainder more plan to significantly decrease than increase numbers

• However, larger employers more likely to increase apprentice numbers

• Non levy payers expect to decrease

• Net effect, expansion in numbers driven by levy payers

What do you feel you knowledge of the rules for apprenticeship End Point Assessments is currently?

Select one.1. Know very little, want to know more.

2. Know a fair bit, could do with brushing up on the changes.

3. Know most of it, but clarification on some points would be helpful.

Which of these statements is incorrect?

Select one.1. Organisations who are not on the register of apprenticeship training

providers cannot deliver and End Point Assessment

2. The assessment costs include any costs related to external quality assurance of the end-point assessment

3. The minimum duration of an apprenticeship is 12 months including end point assessment

4. The apprenticeship provider can in some cases also carry out the end point assessment for their own learners

Developed by employers to meet the needs of their sector

Describes the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) relevant to a specific job or occupation

Supports an apprentice to work towards eligibility for

professional registration

Creates competent productive workers

Assessment plan mandates the end-point assessment to demonstrate

the relevant KSBs

Ensures independent assessment

Describes the assessment methods and tools to be used

Defines the grading criteria and weighting

End-point

Assessment

definition

and

process

Updated funding rules: Kick backs

• You must not pay incentives or inducements or any other payment not authorised by us to the employer in relation to any part of the apprenticeship programme.

• You must not return, in total or in part, the employer’s contribution once the co-investment has been collected.

• Where the employer is the delivery subcontractor they must report the actual costs of delivery.

Updated funding rules: 20% EPA• Old “20% of the total agreed price” New “20% of the funding

band maximum.”

• The cost of end-point assessment should not usually exceed 20% of the funding band maximum. This does not mean that end-point assessment must cost 20%; the cost that individual employers will pay for assessment varies between standards and we expect we expect employers to negotiate with assessment organisations to secure value for money. Where total costs are higher than the funding band maximum the difference must be paid by the employer.

• The assessment costs include any costs related to external quality assurance of the end-point assessment.

• The Provider must contract with the assessment organisation and have a written agreement in place with them and make payment to them for conducting the end-point assessment.

• The written agreement must set out the arrangements for sharing relevant information about the apprentice so end-point assessment and certification can take place, including arrangements for any re-takes and payments

• Employers must ensure that they engage actively with any request for information from the external quality assurance body, where applicable.

Funding rules: Contracting

• An apprentice can only take the end-point assessment once they have met the minimum duration of the apprenticeship, satisfied the gateway requirements set out in the assessment plan and you are content they have attained sufficient skills, knowledge and behaviours. 372 days minimum entered on the ILR.

• Although the provider will be involved in arrangements for end-point assessment, the assessment itself must be independent of both the provider and employer.

• The only exception to this rule is any standard identified as an ‘integrated standard’. The apprentice assessment organisation in these cases may also be the provider.

Funding rules

Scenarios to consider

The apprentice has received excellent training and they are confident and ready for their EPA. However, the next available slot that can be provided locally is in 3 months time . What do you do?

Scenarios to consider

You have agreed with an employer that the duration of the apprenticeship will be 24 months, but after 6 months you realise that they are not going to be able to complete in that time. What do you do?

Choose an independent End-point Assessment Organisation

from the Register of Apprentice Assessment Organisations

(RoAAO)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-apprentice-assessment-organisations

The earlier the better!

Why:

• Recording on the ILR

• Training and Development of all those involved

• Confirming readiness of apprentices to enter End-point Assessment

• Scheduling and resourcing of end-point assessment activities (for example, appointing experts, identifying test centres, arranging site authorisations)

Level

Typical

Apprenticeship

Duration

End-point

Assessment duration

Pow

er

Power Network Craftsperson 3 30-36 months Up to 6 months

Maintenance & Operations

Engineering Technician3 36 to 42 months Up to 6 months

Electrical Power Plant

Commissioning & Protection4 36 months Up to 6 months

Dual Fuel Smart Meter Installer 2 14 months Up to 3 months

Gas

Gas Network Craftsperson 3 48 months Up to 3 months

Gas Network Team Leader 2 12 to 18 months Up to 3 months

Gas engineering 3 18 months Up to 3 months

Wate

r

and

Uti

liti

es

Water Process Technician 3 48 months Up to 3 months

Utilities Engineering Technician 3 48 months Up to 3 months

• Request CVs and or certificates from Technical experts (including assessors) to be involved in End-point Activities.

• Identify when their Apprentice is ready to enter End-point Assessment.

• Schedule end-point Assessment activities (with the End-point Assessment Organisation) as soon as possible.

• Provide premises to undertake the End-point Assessment activities.

• Ensure that evidence of apprentice End-point Assessment activities and preliminary results are available for final decision panels or external examination (depends on the Apprenticeship Standard being delivered).

Checklist for providers

Assessment options• Re-takes/re-sits will only be available to apprentices who fail an end-point

assessment element(s) i.e. they are not offered to apprentices wishing to move from pass to distinction.

• Apprentices may re-take/re-sit one or more elements within the six month end-point assessment period.

• Re-take/re-sits outside of the six-month end-point assessment period would require all elements to be re-assessed.

• Re-sits/re-takes will not be awarded a grade higher than pass.

• Apprentices must have a supportive action plan to prepare for the re-take/re-sit.

• Further re-takes/re-sits would be at the discretion of the employer following a 1:1 review with the apprentice to determine the suitability of the apprentice for further testing.

Assessment options

FUNDING RULES

• Re-sit costs will not be publicly funded where no additional learning is needed

• The provider / End-point Assessment organisation contract will include

arrangements for re-takes and payments

Provider feedback• Apprentices want ‘more time’ to prepare. Typical time give to

preparation was at least a week once they had reached gateway.

• Employers are satisfied with the process as long as they are involved at every stage. If not they can be surprised at the level to which they are expected to be involved.

• When employers are fully involved the apprentice and AAO feel the EPA goes more smoothly

• Plan how you will give feedback.

Provider Feedback

http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/content/etf2471

• Fully cover the End Point Assessment process down to the last detail, at the start of the apprenticeship with the Apprentice and the employer

• Provide samples of the EPA setting and methodology

• Administrative and operational elements need to be factored in to preparation – double checking qualifications and English and maths have been achieved

• Leave time to make reasonable adjustments for apprentices who need them

http://futureapprenticeships.org.uk/about-us/end-point-assessment/

Delivery of on-programme elements

• Understand apprenticeships, requirements, systems,

delivery and capacity

• Transition and planning for delivery of standards

• Organisational specific support

Delivering the apprenticeship standards

Focusing on transitioning and delivering apprenticeship standards

in specific occupational areas

Includes development of a practical, robust transition plan and

evidence from providers who are already making the changes.

Innovation in delivery

http://tvet.excellencegateway.org.uk/

• Focus on delivery improvement

• Opportunities to learn from

effective practice

• Space to consider your own

practice

• Opportunities to network

End-point assessment Assessors:

• To support people to develop the skills to become

independent end-point assessors for apprenticeships through:

an online module and three large events with workshops.

Organisations:

• To support organisations through workshops to make

decisions about becoming an AAO, preparing to deliver EPA

and ‘gearing up’ workshops to support AAOs to deliver

significant volumes.

Equality Diversity and Inclusion

A free 2-hour course for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for

apprenticeship providers is available.

Following the new apprentice journey through 7 core modules.

Includes in-depth modules on mental health in apprenticeships:

• Building awareness, capacity & capability of practitioners;

• Effective models and examples of accessible and inclusive

apprenticeships

Future Apprenticeships Toolkit

.

Contact details

Access support through courses, the provider

toolkit, webinars, resources and information

through the portal:

www.futureapprenticeships.org.uk

www.etfoundation.co.uk

enquiries@etfoundation.co.uk

@E_T_Foundation

‘In House’ events• All courses advertised through Future

Apprenticeships can be delivered on a provider’s premises

• 2 day packages of support can be condensed into one day

• Provider responsible for sourcing the venue and all catering arrangements

• Comprehensive pack of training materials is provided for each delegate

Prices for ‘in house’ support events

• £1,600 – up to 16 participants

• £2,600 – between 17 – 32 participants

• £3,400 – between 32 – 48 participants

• Approximately £100 per participant!!

• Offer open to any provider or network

Questions