Further to the update that we provided on the 22nd October 2021, an additional set of guidance has been released by the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education providing clarification on the COVID-19 flexibility and dispensation withdrawal at the end of December 2021. This update can be accessed by clicking here.
However, we have summarised the key points below:
- The majority of temporary COVID-19 discretions will be switched off at the end of December 2021. The apprenticeship standards’ pages on the Institute’s website will be updated and the COVID-19 banner will be removed where temporary COVID-19 discretions have been switched off. For those apprenticeships where the discretion has been extended, the banner will be updated.
- Apprentices that progress through Gateway prior to the end of December 2021, but have their End-Point Assessment planned from 1st January 2022, will be assessed against the requirements of the original End-Point Assessment plan unless the temporary COVID-19 discretion has been extended.
- Apprentices that progress through Gateway from 1st January 2022 will be assessed against the original requirements of the End-Point Assessment plan unless the temporary COVID-19 discretion has been extended.
- Any End-Point Assessments that begin prior to the end of December 2021, but are completed in January 2022, can continue to make use of the temporary COVID-19 discretion. EPAOs must discuss and agree on the action with the EQAP if the End-Point Assessment cannot be completed before the end of January 2022.
- Apprentices that complete their End-Point Assessment using the temporary COVID-19 discretion before the end of December 2021, but who require a resit/retake are permitted to use the discretion, even if their resit/retake is completed after 1 January 2022.
- Apprentices that are due to complete their End-Point Assessment before the end of December 2021 using the temporary COVID-19 discretion but, due to extenuating circumstances, are unable to do so prior to the discretion being switched off, should be given the opportunity to continue to be assessed using the discretion if that is still appropriate.
- The EPAO must discuss and agree on the action with the EQAP for any cases where the End-Point Assessment has been carried over but cannot be completed before the end of January 2022.
- COVID-19 discretions that have been switched off cannot be used as part of an EPAO’s reasonable adjustment or special consideration policy.
As per our update on 22nd October 2021, we have updated the table below where we will outline the Apprenticeship Standard, the current temporary dispensations in place for that standard, and the approach going forward from January 2022. Any updates from the original table provided have been emboldened and underlined below. We will continue to communicate any additional changes or clarification as we receive them.
| Sector/Standard | Current COVID-19 Dispensation | January 2022 onwards Delivery |
Business Generics |
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| Customer Service Practitioner | The following Covid-19 temporary discretion has been agreed upon until further notice.
The observation may be replaced with witness testimony from someone familiar with the Apprentice’s work. The Apprentice would then be assessed through Q&A with an external assessor |
Apprentices will be required to undertake the 90 to 120 minute Practical Observation as per the published assessment plan. |
| Customer Service Specialist
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The following Covid-19 temporary discretion has been agreed upon until further notice.
The observation may be replaced with witness testimony from someone familiar with the Apprentice’s work. The Apprentice would then be assessed through Q&A with an external assessor. |
Apprentices will be required to undertake the 60-minute Practical Observation with Q&A as per the published assessment plan. |
Healthcare |
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| Healthcare Support Worker
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The following Covid-19 temporary discretion has been agreed upon until further notice.
The observation assessment may be replaced with a reflective statement written by the apprentice and validated by an expert witness. This will be followed by a question and answer session of up to 30 minutes with an independent assessor |
Apprentices will be required to undertake the 90 to 120-minute Observation of Practice as per the published assessment plan. |
| Senior Healthcare Support Worker | The following Covid-19 temporary discretion has been agreed upon until further notice.
The observation assessment may be replaced with a reflective statement written by the apprentice and validated by an expert witness. This will be followed by a question and answer session of up to 30 minutes with an independent assessor. |
Apprentices will be required to undertake the 120-minute Observation of Practice as per the published assessment plan. |
| Healthcare Assistant Practitioner | The following Covid-19 temporary discretion has been agreed upon until further notice.
The observation assessment may be replaced with a reflective statement written by the apprentice and validated by an expert witness. This will be followed by a question and answer session of up to 30 minutes with an independent assessor. |
Apprentices will be required to undertake the 90-minute Observation of Practice as per the published assessment plan. |
Education |
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| Teaching Assistant | The observation may be replaced by an alternative assessment consisting of a reflective account written by the apprentice and an expert witness statement. The apprentice will then undertake a question and answer session of up to 30 minutes with the external assessor. | The dispensation has been extended to be utilised up until 30th June 2022. |
Hair and Beauty |
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| Hair Professional | New
The apprentice must produce a package of information that shows evidence of their summative assessment. This will include a mapping document, utilising reappropriated evidence provided from the apprentice’s on programme period, which is mapped to the knowledge skills and behaviours detailed in the EPA plan. An employer authentication of the apprentice’s competence statement can be used. A professional discussion will be used to confirm the apprentice’s knowledge and understanding
Original
Where End-Point Assessment cannot be carried out in accordance with the EPA plan the following Covid-19 temporary discretions may be applied to the Hair Professional standard. Further guidance and scenarios have been produced by the Trailblazer Group HBA D2 [https://www.nhbf.co.uk/advice-and-resources/apprentices-and-t-levels/apprenticeships-in-england/] and the End-Point Assessment organisation will decide whether or not the discretion is appropriate.
General (all pathways) as detailed in HBA D2:
Additional 20% time for the practical observation Multiple styles and services can be demonstrated on a single model. Hairdressing pathway:
A blockhead may be used only where Government guidelines preclude the full EPA being completed due to social distancing or limited space restrictions to demonstrate a hair-up style, curly blow dry and/or setting technique.
Barbering pathway (facial hair and shaving services KSBs):
Where apprentices are unable to complete the full EPA due to Government restrictions but have completed facial hair and shaving services units of the Diploma before lockdown, these may be submitted to the End-Point Assessment organisation in lieu of direct observation by the external assessor. As a minimum that evidence will consist of consultation and assessment sheets used in the summative assessment of the units. The external assessor will review the evidence and question the apprentice (15 minutes on facial hair and 15 minutes on shaving services) before making a final decision. |
(Hairdressing) Apprentices will be required to undertake the Observation of Practical Assessment with questioning for a maximum of six hours, excluding breaks, as per the published assessment plan.
(Barbering) Apprentices will be required to undertake the Observation of Practical Assessment with questioning for a maximum of three hours, excluding breaks, as per the published assessment plan.
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Digital Marketing |
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| Digital Marketer | The EQA provider for this standard has agreed on the following temporary flexibilities for this standard until further notice and has informed the relevant End-Point Assessment organisations.
Employers can request EPAO permission to allow apprentices to take the project at home.
A dispensation is in place for the mandated qualifications on this standard, please see details below. For further information please discuss with your Training Provider and End-Point Assessment Organisation. |
Apprentices will be required to complete the Synoptic Project in a controlled environment over four days at either their Employer’s or Training Providers premises while invigilated as per the published assessment plan. |
Learning and Development |
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| Learning and Development Practitioner | On the programme, the project can replace or supplement a post Gateway project where this has not been able to be completed.
Where there is no recording or the recording has not been possible this can be replaced by witness testimony from an appropriate member of staff from the employer. |
The dispensation has been extended to be utilised up until 30th June 2022. |
| Learning and Development Consultant/Business Partner | The work-based project in Learning and Development standards are pre-EPA and can be now used as part of the EPA assessment. | The dispensation has been extended to be utilised up until 30th June 2022. |
Hospitality and Catering |
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| Hospitality Team Member | The following Covid-19 temporary discretion has been agreed upon until further notice.
The practical observation may be replaced by evidence from Training Provider, assessed through a Q&A with an external assessor.
The current discretion continues. The use of a witness testimony covering an observation was felt to be efficient, keeping the burden on the employers manageable. Allowing the external assessor to undertake the question-and-answer session will ensure independence and verify and check the apprentice’s coverage of the KSBs.
The competency framework document will support the evidence gathered and will be signed off by the employer, moving away from the time-bound evidence which cannot be achieved due to COVID-19 restrictions in the industry |
Apprentices will be required to complete a 120-minute observation of the Apprentice in the working environment as per the published assessment plan. |
| Hospitality Supervisor | The following Covid-19 temporary discretion has been agreed upon until further notice.
The practical observation may be replaced by evidence from Training Provider, assessed through a Q&A with an external assessor.
The current discretion continues. The use of a witness testimony covering an observation was felt to be efficient, keeping the burden on the employers manageable. Allowing the external assessor to undertake the question-and-answer session will ensure independence and verify and check the apprentice’s coverage of the KSBs.
The competency framework document will support the evidence gathered and will be signed off by the employer, moving away from the time-bound evidence which cannot be achieved due to COVID-19 restrictions in the industry |
Apprentices will be required to complete a four-hour observation of the Apprentice in the working environment as per the published assessment plan. |
| Commis Chef (AP01) | The following Covid-19 temporary discretion has been agreed upon until further notice.
The practical observation may be replaced by evidence from Training Provider, assessed through a Q&A with an external assessor. In addition, the Culinary Challenge may be replaced by evidence from the Apprentice, training provider, witness statement and Q&A.
The current discretion continues. The use of a witness testimony covering an observation was felt to be efficient, keeping the burden on the employers manageable. Allowing the external assessor to undertake the question-and-answer session will ensure independence and verify and check the apprentice’s coverage of the KSBs.
The competency framework document will support the evidence gathered and will be signed off by the employer, moving away from the time-bound evidence which cannot be achieved due to COVID-19 restrictions in the industry. |
Apprentices are required to complete a three-hour practical observation and a two-hour culinary challenge observation as per the published assessment plan. |
| Chef de Partie (AP01) | The following Covid-19 temporary discretion has been agreed upon until further notice.
The practical observation may be replaced by evidence from Training Provider, assessed through a Q&A with an external assessor. In addition, the Culinary Challenge may be replaced by evidence from the apprentice, training provider, witness statement and Q&A.
The current discretion continues. The use of a witness testimony covering an observation was felt to be efficient, keeping the burden on the employers manageable. Allowing the external assessor to undertake the question-and-answer session will ensure independence and verify and check the apprentice’s coverage of the KSBs.
The competency framework document will support the evidence gathered and will be signed off by the employer, moving away from the time-bound evidence which cannot be achieved due to COVID-19 restrictions in the industry. |
Apprentices are required to complete a four-hour practical observation and a three-hour culinary challenge project observation as per the published assessment plan. |
| Production Chef | The following Covid-19 temporary discretion has been agreed upon until further notice.
The practical observation may be replaced by evidence from Training Provider, assessed through a Q&A with an external assessor.
The current discretion continues. The use of a witness testimony covering an observation was felt to be efficient, keeping the burden on the employers manageable. Allowing the external assessor to undertake the question-and-answer session will ensure independence and verify and check the apprentice’s coverage of the KSBs.
The competency framework document will support the evidence gathered and will be signed off by the employer, moving away from the time-bound evidence which cannot be achieved due to COVID-19 restrictions in the industry. |
Apprentices are required to complete a 120-minute practical observation with a 20-minute question and answer session as per the published assessment plan. |
| Senior Production Chef (AP02) | The following Covid-19 temporary discretion has been agreed upon until further notice.
The practical observation may be replaced by evidence from Training Provider, assessed through a Q&A with an external assessor.
The current discretion continues. The use of a witness testimony covering an observation was felt to be efficient, keeping the burden on the employers manageable. Allowing the external assessor to undertake the question-and-answer session will ensure independence and verify and check the apprentice’s coverage of the KSBs.
The competency framework document will support the evidence gathered and will be signed off by the employer, moving away from the time-bound evidence which cannot be achieved due to COVID-19 restrictions in the industry. |
Apprentices are required to complete a four-hour observation with a 20-minute questioning session as per the published assessment plan. |
Retail |
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| Retailer | The following Covid-19 temporary discretion has been agreed upon until further notice.
The Observation may be replaced by evidence of practice, validated by an expert witness statement and assessed through a Q&A session with the external assessor of up to 30 minutes. |
Apprentices are required to complete a 120 minute hour observation as per the published assessment plan. |
The table below outlines the standards that will not have the assessment delivery affected by the removal of the applied COVID-19 flexibility from January 2022 onwards.
| Standard | Current COVID-19 Dispensation | January 2022 onwards Delivery |
Adult Care |
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| Adult Care Worker | The EQA provider for this standard has agreed on the following temporary flexibilities for this standard until further notice and has informed the relevant End-Point Assessment organisations
Flexibilities agreed to accept suitable evidence of achievement offered as a ‘proxy’ for certification or achievement |
Assessment delivery will not be affected but the flexibility for Level 2 attempt at Functional Skills will not be available from 31st December 2021 onwards, as detailed within the funding rules. Functional Skills at Level 2 must therefore be attempted prior to End-Point Assessment. |
| Lead Adult Care Worker | The EQA provider for this standard has agreed on the following temporary flexibilities for this standard until further notice and has informed the relevant End-Point Assessment organisations.
Flexibilities agreed to accept suitable evidence of achievement offered as a ‘proxy’ for certification or achievement |
Assessment delivery will not be affected by this change. |
Leadership and Management |
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| Operations/ Departmental Manager | It has been agreed due to Covid-19, that the panel can be hosted by the independent End-Point Assessment only. However, every effort should be made to ensure a sector expert is a part of the panel. If the decision is to have only the independent end-point assessment then this needs to be authorised by the employer. | There will be no changes to the End-Point Assessment following January 2021 as the current method of assessment delivery regarding not having the sector-specific panel member was approved with the EQA prior to COVID-19. |
Business |
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| Associate Project Manager | It has been agreed due to Covid-19, that the panel can be hosted by the independent End-Point Assessment only. However, every effort should be made to ensure a sector expert is a part of the panel. If the decision is to have only the independent End-Point Assessment then this needs to be authorised by the employer. | There will be no changes to the End-Point Assessment following January 2021 as the current method of assessment delivery regarding not having the sector-specific panel member was approved with the EQA prior to COVID-19. |
Human Resources |
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| HR Support | Pre-gateway work examples can be used for the consultative project. Apprentices can only use work examples from the last 6 months of the apprenticeship. | We have confirmed with the EQA that our interpretation from the assessment plan is that pre-gateway evidence may be used to support the project as the published assessment plan defines the completion of the project as being post-gateway rather than the start. |
| HR Partner | Pre-gateway work examples can be used for the consultative project. Apprentices can only use work examples from the last 6 months of the apprenticeship. | |
We will be offering additional training and support sessions on the original assessment methods to support the transition back to the assessments as outlined within the assessment plan. We will provide further detail on these shortly.
Should you have additional questions to those listed above please contact us via epasupport@tquk.org
