Money – The Lubricant Of The QCF System Written and presented by Nick Linford 11 th May 2011 Reading

Level 1-12 Award Cert 37+ Diploma E Credits bands (ish) Full Level 2 = Cert and Diploma Full Level 3 = Diploma Currently, not always and only post-19 Unit Credit Unit Credit QCF qualification, such as an Award Each credit represents 10 hours of learning time (not same as guided learning hours) Summary of the Framework Foundation Learning Curriculum

Demand Led Funding formula Elements in the demand-led funding formula: > Programme Weighting Factor (PWF) QCF qualifications are funded using the DLF funding formula, which is an enrolment based funding methodology Therefore, every enrolment has an individual value > Standard Learner Number (SLN) > Disadvantage Uplift (DU)* > National Funding Rate (NFR) > Short Programme Modifier (SCM)** Formula elements multiplied together equals maximum funding for the enrolment * Not included for Train to Gain > Area Cost Uplift (ACU) ** Not included for ER (Apprenticeships or Train to Gain) > Success Factor (SF)**

Learning Aim Database

SLNs and PWFs on the LAD A1 B1.12 C1.3 D1.6 E1.72 F1.4 G1.92 H1.2 J1.25 K1.5 L1.15 Programme Weighting Factors SLN GLH / 450 = SLN

Minimum attendance Planned duration (calendar days)Minimum attendance 24 weeks or more6 weeks 2 to 24 weeks2 weeks Less than 2 weeksOnce This is commonly referred to as the ‘definition of a start’ If an LR or ER withdrawal is before the minimum attendance period no funding is generated and the enrolment is not counted as a start Co-funding for % of the unweighted funding (LR) or weighted funding (ER)

Claiming demand-led funding Providers submit Individualised Learner Record (ILR) data online for funding and performance purposes Provider paid BACS payment on 10 th working day ILR ER or LR e.g. LR01 Monthly is on 4 th working day OLDC portal & SAMS Data collection and payment systems Monthly for ER (01-13) and less frequently for LR (01-05) Other related software and databases: > Learner Information Suite (LIS) > Learning Aims Database (LAD) > Data Self-assessment Toolkit (DSAT)

Register of Regulated Qualifications Beware that when searching by learning aims you may need the forward slashes, e.g. 500/9076/8 This website includes individual QCF unit details, as well in mandatory and options information like: “To achieve this qualification all mandatory generic units must be achieved, all mandatory technical units must be achieved and a minimum of 12 credits from the optional group. A total of 54 credits are required to achieve this qualification.” Formally the National Database of Accredited Quals (NDAQ) Being on the Register does not mean it is fundable

16-18 qualification fundability “Further to the announcement in the YPLA e-bulletin Issue 11 ( ) the Department for Education has now approved around 1500 qualifications under Section 96; these have been added to the Section 96 website. ” The qual advisory committee (JACQA) has been ‘dissolved’: For a spreadsheet of recently approved or amended Section 96 qualifications visit “New accredited vocational qualifications for use post 16 will in general be approved.” Following Wolf Review of Vocational Education this likely to change. Rumour is the DfE will publish their response on Friday.

19+ qualification fundability ALR conditional= 162 TtG conditional = 61 QCF qualifications confirmed spreadsheet, last updated 20/04/11 ALR confirmed = 3,554 TtG confirmed = 1,739 The SFA QCF funding spreadsheets* Example information for a confirmed qualification: Example information for a conditional qualification: * Apprenticeships dealt with separately as part of mandatory Frameworks

Funding rates QCF funding rates are in the main based on recommended GLH or where available, historical information and can change year on year Rates are recorded on the LAD, and can differ between age and funding stream. They can also be very different from the NQF qualification they replace If a qualification is not on the LAD, funding cannot be claimed (regardless of what anyone or a spreadsheet tells you! QCF Diploma in Playwork ( ) As you can see the funding rates (SLN and SLN GLH) differ, as do the programme weightings

Fundability and rate implications ~ Most vocational NQF quals no longer fundable (or soon to be ‘switched-off’) ~ Some quals will be fundable, but maybe for only some learners ~ Providers should keep checking the spreadsheet and the LAD ~ Rates can change year on year ~ Curriculum planning which takes these things into account will be more critical than ever ~ Some quals will be fundable, but maybe for only some funding streams ~ The QCF funding rates can be very different from previous quals So ~ And watch out for the funding iceberg (A51a) – more on this later

The QCF funding icebergs Recognition of prior learning (RPL), formerly referred to as the accreditation of prior experience and learning (APEL): “Where 50% or more of the assessment for a programme is achieved though RPL a reduction in proportion to half the value of the assessment achieved through RPL should be made” Exemption: “funding cannot be claimed for any part of a programme achieved through exemption; therefore a proportionate reduction will be expected” Rules of Combination and Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT): Rules of Combination allow for the transfer of credit from a previous episode of learning. “Where a qualification has been partially achieved through credit transfer a reduction in funding is required” In these cases (which are likely to increase) ILR field A51a must be used to reduced funding and “ensure that double funding is not recorded”

Level 1 Dip in Bricklaying ( X)SLN GLH 470 (47 Credits) With the ConstructionSkills QCF diplomas “the lower level courses are also embedded within the higher level courses” Level 2 Dip in Bricklaying ( ) SLN GLH 900 (90 Credits) For the Level 2, what discount would be applied within ILR field A51a? Assume a learner progresses from the Level 1 to the Level 2 Now calculate the unweighted Level 2 funding for this learner (national base rate = £2,920) 900 / 450 x £2,920 x 0.48 = £2,803 But really: 430 / 450 x £2,920 = £2,790Quick answer: Too complex? Practical example for use of A51a “The value in A51a should be calculated using remaining planned credit To achieve the learning aim divided by the credit value of the leaning aim recorded on the LAD”

Lsect summer events across England Find out more and book via ~ Sub-contracting Funding Summit ~ Summer College Data Conference ~ Apprenticeship Funding Practiclass ~ Intro to funding for curriculum staff ~ Year-end data audit essentials ~ ESOL Funding Practiclass

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