Losing apprenticeship funding would be a nightmare for most training providers.
But with rules around funding becoming increasingly complex, it is possible for providers to slip up, get into trouble with the ESFA, and even lose access to vital funds.
It's vital that providers get to grips with the rules. In response, experts from OneFile summarise some of the key aspects you need to consider when claiming apprenticeship funding:
The introduction of end-point assessment was one of the biggest changes to apprenticeships of recent times.
It may seem unusual, but with EPA, it's well worth starting with the end in mind to avoid delays and get ahead. In practice, that means getting an EPAO ready to assess your apprenticeship standard to save wasting time. By doing this, you'll also know your expected costs, which means you'll be better prepared to make your funding claim - a smart move.
You must conduct an initial assessment of the apprentice's prior learning so you can best map out their route to achieving the knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs) required by your apprenticeship standard. Then, quantify and evidence the prior learning and adjust the course duration and 'off-the-job' hours to ensure apprentices don't repeat any learning.
That's also important for generating an accurate funding claim. The ESFA says; 'Apprenticeship funding should not be used to pay for, or accredit, existing knowledge, skills and behaviours' - which means they won't pay for any repeated learning and will even take action to claw back apprenticeship funding where this happens.
You also need to store evidence of the RPL in the evidence pack. You'll need to demonstrate how prior learning has been taken into account to adjust the training, content, duration and cost.
If you adjust the duration, off-the-job training element and funding in light of RPL and find that the apprenticeship would take less than the minimum duration to complete, you must not claim funding. The apprentice isn't a suitable candidate for an apprenticeship and isn't eligible for funding.
To be eligible for funding, you must make sure the apprentice spends at least 6 hours of their contracted hours on completing off-the-job training - that means any learning outside of their normal workplace.
Once their time is assigned correctly and you're compliant, you'll be able to claim funding against both on-programme learning and off-the-job training. You'll need to work with the employer to plan the off-the-job training and negotiate the cost - making sure the training is directly relevant to the apprenticeship standard.
Every apprenticeship standard has a funding band, which sets out the maximum funding you can claim from an employer - either from their apprenticeship levy or their coinvested funds. Anything above the funding band must be paid using the employer's own funds.
Once you've recognised the apprentice's prior learning and adjusted the course content, duration and cost accordingly, you'll know how much apprenticeship funding to claim. It's worth calculating your delivery expenses to check that the apprenticeship will provide a return on investment to you as the provider.
It's important to capture all costs within the proposed cost of an apprenticeship - and the way to do that is maximise value. Think early about whether you will stretch and challenge apprentices? Encourage them to enter skills competitions, or strive for qualifications. As long as it's relevant to the standard and paid for by the employer, you can negotiate it into your price.
RPL is at the heart of apprenticeship funding - impacting content, duration, off-the-job hours, and payments received - so it has to be right.
With OneFile's RPL Funding Calculator, you can recognise prior learning remotely, adjust funding claims accordingly, and check each applicant's suitability online. It's cost-effective, convenient and compliant. You'll also have auditable evidence of each applicant's RPL and clear, audit-ready reports to show Ofsted and the ESFA how you've adjusted you funding claims according to prior learning.
To find out how you can use the RPL Funding Calculator in your centre, download your free guide.