With further lockdown restrictions easing over the weekend of 4th and 5th July, we wanted to update you on some matters relating to EPA, following on from our update last week
- Onsite Assessments
- Hair Professional Standard update
Onsite Assessments
A reminder that our primary method of assessment remains as remote. However, we are where possible, looking to support onsite / face-to-face assessments to take place. To assist us with this, Training Providers are asked to complete our Onsite Assessment Declaration form, which can be found under the General Support Materials section on Verve EPA. Once completed, this should be emailed to epa@tquk.org where our EPA team will review.
Question– How do I request an onsite/ face-to-face assessment?
Answer– Please complete the requested Onsite Declaration form and submit to epa@tquk.org alongside the required Gateway evidence for each Apprentice, where onsite/ face to face assessment is requested.
Question – My Apprentice has already progressed through Gateway and has opted to “Delay” one or more of the included assessment components. What do I need to do?
Answer– Please complete the required Onsite Assessment Declaration form and submit to epa@tquk.org. Once this form has been received and reviewed, our Coordinators will then update the allocated EPA Assessor to confirm if the onsite assessment can now take place. Where we are able to support the Assessor, will make direct contact to discuss any wider safety considerations and look to agree an assessment date.
Hair Professional
As per our previous communication, we have been meeting regularly with the other relevant Hair Professional End-Point Assessment Organisations throughout this period, to monitor the current health pandemic and make collective judgements in relation to conducting assessments for this standard. Until this point, our collective view had been that “delay” was the only viable option for this standard.
Following the updated government guidance permitting salons to reopen for trade from 4th July, we have again met to review this guidance in association with this standard’s published assessment plan, and have collectively agreed that we are now able to lift the “delay” directive and resume onsite assessments, wherever it is safe and possible for us to do so.
As per the above detail, Training Providers are asked to complete the Onsite Assessment Declaration form, per Apprentice for our internal review.
This decision to resume assessments is for both Hair and Barbering routes, with the caveat that for Barbering Apprentices, all model(s) used for the shaving aspect of the assessment must be from within the Apprentice’s own household/ bubble. Our Onsite Assessment Declaration form requires confirmation of this. Where this is not currently possible, then unfortunately at this time the assessment still needs to remain as “Delay” and we will provide an update on this when we are able to do so.
Question– When will assessment bookings for this standard commence?
Answer– We will commence with assessor allocations from Tuesday 7th July 2020, with onsite assessments able to take place from Wednesday 15th July 2020. As per our advice and previous communication, we have a number of Apprentices for this standard who have already been submitted through Gateway. Allocations will initially be made in date order of the Apprentices’ Gateway progression date. Whilst work has been taking place in the background to make “pencil allocations” throughout the lockdown period, we do ask for your patience as we complete this exercise.
Equally, we appreciate that for some Apprentices, whilst they may have progressed through Gateway, they may want a period of time to re-familiarise themselves with salon life and working on clients, ahead of taking their End-Point Assessment. This is not a problem, our Assessors will make contact in the order of Gateway, however will be happy to discuss an assessment date that suits the individual Apprentice’s/ Salon’s needs.
Question– If my Apprentice has already been submitted through Gateway for this standard, what do I now need to do?
Answer– Please complete the required Onsite Declaration form and submit to epa@tquk.org. Our EPA Coordinators will commence with allocating an appropriate EPA Assessor, however, our Assessors will not make contact with the Apprentice/ Employer, until we have received the required declaration form. Once this form has been received and reviewed, our EPA Coordinators will then update the allocated EPA Assessor to confirm if the onsite assessment can now take place. Where we are able to support the Assessor, will make direct contact to discuss any wider safety considerations and look to agree an assessment date.
As always, should you have any questions with regards to onsite assessment for any of our standards please do contact us.
