The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) have announced that people who start a Level 2 apprenticeship without Level 1 English and maths will no longer automatically need to attempt Level 2 English and maths tests to complete their apprenticeship.
The ESFA have clarified that English and/or maths must be provided for all apprentices where they do not have prior attainment in these subjects at level 2. However, the requirement for apprentices assessed at level 1 but without a level 1 qualification to take level 2 before achieving level 1 has been removed. This reflects the policy change that level 2 apprentices who do not have level 1 in English and maths must prioritise achieving level 1 in these subjects and are only required to work towards level 2 English and maths where they have time remaining to make meaningful progress, once they have achieved level 1.
Funding for initial assessment
As a result of their Eligible Costs review, the ESFA have made initial assessment an eligible cost.
For full details of the changes to functional skills in apprenticeships and funding for initial assessment, click here
You can also learn more about the changes to functional skills in apprenticeships at the Functional Skills Delivery Network Conference being held on the 11th of July in Leeds.