Providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
This document sets out guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations in response to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).
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Providing apprenticeships during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
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This document sets out guidance for apprentices, employers, training providers and assessment organisations in response to the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).
It outlines the changes that the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is making to the apprenticeship programme during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Our information should be read alongside:
- guidance on financial support for businesses during coronavirus (COVID-19) – the salary support for furloughed employees, also applies to apprentices
- articles on the apprenticeship service for employers, training providers and end-point assessment organisations
- articles on the apprenticeship service for apprentices
- guidance from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE) on the delivery of assessment
Published 23 March 2020
Last updated 23 December 2020 + show all updates
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Updated to incorporate guidance on tier 4 and phased returns.
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We have added information about managing national and local restrictions. This guidance makes it clear that apprenticeship training and assessment can continue to be delivered under national restrictions and all local restriction tiers.
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Updated with information about the extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the national restrictions guidance, the package of support available for those who have been made redundant on or after 15 October, and functional skills.
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Added a link to the new national restrictions from 5 November guidance.
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Amended information on ‘Local outbreaks’.
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Updated information on routine funding audits. Added resources about redundancy for employers and apprentices and information on the use of face coverings.
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Updated guidance to include the temporary flexibility to allow apprenticeship certificates to be sent to an alternative address and the end point assessment (EPA) flexibilities that are extended until the end of the year.
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Updated to confirm that from 13 July providers can welcome back 19+ apprentices into educational settings, that the flexibility to suspend level 2 functional skills for level 2 apprentices has been extended, and more information on support for redundant apprentices.
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Updated with information on which apprentices should be prioritised in the offer of face-to-face training from 15 June, and details of the flexibility that enables apprentices to take end-point assessment ahead of receiving their calculated functional skills qualification results.
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Updated with information on training and assessing apprentices in line with the government’s new safer working guidelines, calculating wages for furloughed apprentices, off-the-job training, and redundant apprentices.
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Updated information on furloughed apprentices, end-point assessment, functional skills apprentices and qualification certification.
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Updated with new information on continuing training and end point assessment for furloughed apprentices, and pausing new funding audits.
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First published.
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