Network Update February 2017 AELP Regional Network Update February 2017 AELP Regional Network Update January 2017

Apprenticeship Reforms

Recent Government Updates : Apprenticeship Reform – Updated Funding Rules: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-funding-and-performance-management-rules-2017-to-2018 SFA Update: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sfa-inform/inform-issue-115-january-2017 Adult Education Budget – Funding rates and formula: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/585387/Funding_rates_and_formula_2017_to_2018__FINAL.pdf Apprenticeship Funding Bands: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-funding-bands Industrial Strategy consultation paper: https://beisgovuk.citizenspace.com/strategy/industrial-strategy/?utm_campaign=gov&utm_source=internal-beis&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=internal

Institute of Apprenticeships (IfA) The draft guidance, published by the DfE, sets out the IFA’s role. Consultation on the draft guidance closed on 31st January 2017. Full details of how the Institute for Apprenticeships will operate have been set out in an operational plan for consultation alongside the names of 8 members of the board appointed to run the institute. Following consultation, the plan will set out how the Institute for Apprenticeships will deliver its functions to: - improve the quality of apprenticeships - regulate the quality of apprenticeship standards and assessment plans - provide advice to government on the pricing of apprenticeship standards - establish how the institute will collaborate with partners to drive quality across the apprenticeships system - gain more information and insight on how we will lead the reforms to technical education

New minimum and living wage rates New minimum and living wage rates apply from April 1st 2017. After this time, the new national minimum wage for apprentices aged under 19 (or aged 19 or over and in their first year of their apprenticeship) will rise to £3.50.

Funding and Levy info – areas for clarification Negotiation of price may affect quality 16 – 18 year olds – lack of incentives for employers Non-levy payers budget Standards and Apprenticeship Assessment Organisations (AAOs) Grade 4 (overall) providers Maths and English funding and Level 2 requirements in intermediate apprenticeships 20% off the job training Earlier confirmation of successful RoATP applicants to allow earlier planning AELP continuing to address above areas for clarification Providers encouraged to complete AELP survey and provide case studies of how they deliver 20% off the job training

Future Apprenticeship Support Programme

Future Apprenticeships Support Programme The programme, which is designed to support staff in the delivery of high quality apprenticeships, includes one day workshops, intensive packages of support, on line resources, webinars, Provider Readiness Groups and the Provider Toolkit

Future Apprenticeships – links to Phase 2 workshops Everything you need to know about apprenticeships Delivering the Apprenticeship Standards  Subject areas include: Adult Care, Healthcare, Customer Service & Business Administration, Digital (IT, Software, web & Telecoms), Hospitality, Transport & Logistics, Science, Team leading & Management, Engineering & Automotive, Hair & Beauty, Early Years

Additional Workshops – New Themes and Dates: Recruiting Learners onto Apprenticeship Standards 27th February Birmingham 1st March Newcastle Recruiting Learners onto Apprenticeship Standards The Changing Role of Apprenticeship Delivery Teams 20th March Manchester 23rd March London The Changing Role of Apprenticeship Delivery Teams

End Point Assessment Workshops – January and February 2017 For organisations who: Want to apply to the Register of Apprenticeship Assessment Organisations (AAOs) Want to provide staff and resources to registered AAOs Are looking to form geographical or occupational collaborations to deliver End Point Assessment (EPA) One day workshop and follow up call with action planning – for dates and booking please click the link below: https://booking.etfoundation.co.uk/course/details/81?return=browse&ci_id=165 Delegates should be in a leadership position that will allow them to understand how the opportunity to get involved with end-point assessments fits with their organisation’s strategy

Development and Innovation - Masterclasses The overarching aim of the masterclasses is to inspire providers and employers to think about how they can improve the quality of their delivery in the move from apprenticeships frameworks to apprenticeship standards.  Tuesday, 28th February 2017 – Sheffield Wednesday, 15th March 2017 - Warwickshire The master class is aimed at Strategic Leaders (including those involved in governance) and Senior Managers from providers of all types including employers who are providers. The masterclasses are proving very popular – if spaces are not available providers can apply to join the waiting list. The masterclasses will be delivered through a combination of speaker input and breakout facilitated sessions that provide plenty of opportunities for delegates to explore how different approaches can be adapted, contextualised and incorporated to meet a range of different needs. Delegates will be encouraged to start to reflect on how they can apply the principles explored during the master class in their own organisation to develop innovation within their apprenticeship provision.  Following the key note address there will be inputs from employers and providers about how they have moved their provision forward, thinking not just about the logistics of delivering apprenticeships standards, but also about how to develop cutting edge innovative approaches which have significant benefits for apprentices, providers and employers. 

End Point Assessment The following sides provide a taster of the Future Apprenticeship End Point Assessment workshops detailed on slide 11

The role of the Apprenticeship Assessment Organisation (AAO) conduct synoptic and independent end-point assessment of apprentices adhere to specific arrangements or criteria set out in the assessment plan quality assure end-point assessments they deliver identify and record when the apprentice has passed the end- point assessment process adhere to external quality assurance requirements

The assessment plan explains what will be assessed explains how the apprentice will be assessed indicates who will carry out the assessment and who will make the final decision on competency and grading proposes internal and external quality assurance arrangements to make sure assessment is reliable and consistent across different locations, employers and training and assessment organisations The most important document to be considered when applying to be an AAO Will list assessor requirements and qualifications

The assessment plan should: let an assessment organisation offer their services against it by making an application to the Register of Apprentice Assessment Organisations (RoAAO) guide those organisations to enable them to deliver the EPA as designed by the employer group be organisation-neutral - it must not name any specific training or assessment organisations allow individual employers to have the freedom to select the assessment organisation from the register From : The Future of Apprenticeships in England Guidance for Trailblazers - from standards to starts https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-of-apprenticeships-in-england-guidance-for-trailblazers

End-point Assessment methods % of assessment plans (of 149 published) Data as of November 2016 – shown as an example only to illustrate different types of assessment methods Medium is important as the method i.e. skype/ipad Portfolio – only recognised as an assessment method in earlier standards and only where AP states this! Online tests require a large bank of questions i.e one test, 60 questions for 5 students requires a bank of 1800 questions! Some organisations now offering products and services for AAOs to buy resources i.e. question banks E&D factors ALS factors

External quality assurance options proposed in the assessment plan by Trailblazer groups: new organisation or approach (criteria in the guidance) professional bodies Ofqual Institute for Apprenticeships QAA (degree apprenticeships) Note: if Ofqual is listed on the standard as the EQA then the AAO must be registered with Ofqual

Requirements of an assessment organisation An end-point assessment organisation must: have relevant occupational experience of the standard have relevant assessment experience and expertise robustly manage conflicts of interest provide quality assurance of their activity An end-point assessment organisation cannot: deliver the learning elements to the same apprentice deliver end-point assessment to non-apprentices Organisations applying to the Register of Apprenticeship Assessment Organisations (RoAAO) will need to show independence from training delivery and have a clear conflict of interest policy in place that is understood by all staff.

The options…and there are others apply as a provider independently work in a consortium, reciprocally assessing create a geographical or sectoral specialist offer assessment nationally (national test centre) act as a contractor for an AAO or one of the above

Challenges and risks to consider What are the key challenges for us in becoming an AAO and how can these be mitigated? What support and resources will we need to mobilise? Who would regulate us as an AAO for each assessment plan? What are the risks to our organisation? What systems and processes would we need in place to manage the quality of end-point assessment? What are the systems would we need in place to deal with issues of failure (complaints, assessment issues)?

More information (including dates and booking details) is available on the Future Apprenticeships website http://futureapprenticeships.org.uk/

Additional Information

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

Funding for Providers working with Employers AoC, in partnership with AELP and HOLEX Teach Too phase 3 £100,000 will be available for post-16 providers 10 funded projects – from March to September 2017 Looking for projects that will bring industry professionals and training providers together to build effective collaborative arrangements to help improve the design and delivery of vocational education courses Invitation to tender available from Friday 27th January Closing date – Friday 10th February See https://www.aoc.co.uk/teach-too-programme for more information

AELP’s autumn Research Briefing Apprenticeships starts and achievements data Apprenticeships providers’ responses to reforms – key research findings Advanced Learner Loans statistics Unemployment, youth unemployment and NEET statistics Adult skills in the digital age Ofsted inspection reports https://www.aelp.org.uk/topics/details/aelp-research-briefing/

Further reading AELP Parliamentary Newsletter #22 https://www.aelp.org.uk/news/submissions/details/aelp-parliamentary-newsletter-22/ AELP Briefing Paper No44 Apprenticeship Levy https://www.aelp.org.uk/news/submissions/details/aelp-briefing-paper-no44-apprenticeship-levy-quest/ Parliamentary Newsletter #22, includes: Funding for SMEs’ apprenticeships Ensuring apprenticeship opportunities for 16 to 18 year olds Protecting the reputation of apprenticeships Encouraging growth in traineeships Call to end GCSE resits policy 82% of ITPs are good or outstanding Skills Plan and the Industrial Strategy. Levy Q&A also available on website – useful tool to use with staff

Summer two day conference – 26th & 27th June, Novotel London